Seven injured as speeding van runs over protestors in Imphal

Imphal ( Manipur) : A speeding school Maruti van ran over to a group of women staging protest in support of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) demand for introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the state yesterday.

The tragic incident happened at around 3.30 p.m. afternoon yesterday along the National Highway 2 at Kakwa Boroi Makhong area under Singjamei Police station in Imphal West.

The van driver identified as Thokchom Thembi from Singjamei Thongam Leikai has been handed over to police by the locals of the area. However, some of the irate locals dismantled and upside down the Maruti van and burnt it down. Fire tender service which rushed for rescue was prevented at Kakwa Bazar by group of protestors.

Report said the van runs school service transporting students for Little flower School and Canchi Academy.

Witness said that there were three school students inside the van at the time of the incident. Cause of the incident could not be confirmed at the moment, but report culled from the protestors said that the school van bearing registration No. MN-1K 0659 came towards Canchipur site from Singjamei area along the National Highway probably to drop students.

As various women meira paibis from Moirangkhom to Lilong area are staging protest the van was told by protestors to drive slow at Singjamei area.

The van reportedly speed up at Kakwa Naorem leikai nad Thongju Boroi Makhong area where a group of women protestors were staging protest in the middle of the road. On seeing the van speeding, some of the protestors shouted to halt however instead of listening it speeded up and ran over to the group of women staging sit-in protest.

The injured were immediately rushed to Iboyaima Hospital and research Center at

Earlier, as announced by the JCILPS women Meira Paibis and club members in between Moirangkhom to Lilong area stage various democratic form of protest by blocking half of the road, however after the accident the locals of Singjamei area blocked the road completely disallowing any kind of movement. (ANI)