Assam Rifles jawans start firing in the air after India’s win; one of the bullets killed a woman
By Ratnadip Choudhury
Guwahati, Apr 4 : In a bizarre incident, a 70-year-old Manipuri woman was killed when one of the bullets allegedly fired by Assam Rifles jawans hit her accidentally on the night of 3 April.
Members of the 15 Assam Rifles based at Thaoubal in Manipur were celebrating India’s emphatic victory in the 2011 cricket world cup and started firing in the air as an expression of joy.
Waikhom Mani Devi, 70, was in deep sleep when a bullet projectile hit the left side of her back and injured her badly. She was taken to the Thaoubal district civil hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
The incident at once sparked an angry protest by the villagers of Nongangkhong Bamon Leirak in Thaoubal where the incident took place; the village is in close to where the 15 Assam Rifles are posted at Tom Ching.
“On the night of 3 April the jawans fired out of excitement to celebrate India’s victory. A few of them were also drunk. The bullet in question travelled nearly a kilometre, hit the iron roof of a house and killed the lady sleeping inside. It was an accident,” says a senior officer from the 15 Assam Rifles.
The Manipur Police has not said much about the incident but it has started an investigation.
During the investigation, the police found eight bullet projectiles from an Insas rifle in the area. Locals allege that the bullets fired in celebration hit at least 10 houses.
“It was not only at Thaoubal. At several places across the state, reports came in that the security forces had fired in celebration. How they can be so irresponsible,” said N Sanjay Singh, a resident of Thauobal.
Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force in the country. It was specially raised for guarding India’s northeast. Officers there think the accident might have occurred during the change of security guards on sentry duty.
Sharat Chandra Sharma contributed to the story from Imphal.
Ratnadip Choudhury is a Principal Correspondent with Tehelka. ratnadip@tehelka.com
Source: Tehelka
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