Manipur violence: Six injured persons treated in Nagaland

Kohima: At least six seriously injured persons, who were hit by bullets during protest in Kangpokpi district of Manipur, were treated at a private hospital in Kohima on Thursday.

Some of them were admitted in the intensive care unit.

Executive members of Kuki Inpi Union Kohima, who were at the hospital and assisting the family members, told Eastern Mirror that six injured persons who participated in the rally in Manipur were brought to the hospital on Thursday. Most of the injured were from Kangpokpi district.

‘Among the six injured, five have bullet injuries and needed to be operated on. Some were hit on legs, stomach, and other areas,’ a member said.

Two out of the five had been successfully operated when this newspaper visited the hospital on Thursday evening. The injured persons were reportedly brought to the hospital at different timings.

The members were also informed that more patients were expected to be brought to Kohima from Manipur.

For now, the union is taking care and assisting them, the member added.

Recounting the incident, a person who brought his injured friend, told this newspaper that they were protesting in support of the “tribal unity” in Kangpokpi district on Wednesday when bullets were fired at them.

‘We were together at the protest site and my best friend was right next to me and we were walking together in the protest. At that time, they fired live bullets so many times and my friend got hit in the leg’, the person narrated. He added that he was not sure who opened fire at them.

They rushed his friend to the nearest clinic where emergency treatment was given along with two more friends. However, in the absence of equipment, they were referred to Kangpokpi Civil Hospital.

On reaching the hospital, they were made to learn that there was no surgery equipment. They moved to Senapati Hospital where his friend was put on drip and they stayed for the night.

On Thursday morning, doctors expressed inability to treat the injury. Therefore, on the advice of the doctors, they hired an ambulance and brought him to Kohima at around 7:30 am for treatment.

A team of Indian Red Cross Society Nagaland Branch had also visited the injured patients in the evening and distributed relief items including blankets, shirts and cash. The society also arranged blood for the patients.

Home department activates helpline

Nagaland Home department said a “close watch” is being maintained on the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur and the safety and security of people from Nagaland presently in Manipur.

The department, in a notification, said information is being obtained for making arrangements for evacuating people from Nagaland. It said helpline numbers have been activated in this regard at PHQ Nagaland and NSDMA.

Anyone requiring any assistance can contact the State Police Control Room, Kohima: Landline: 0370 224251; Fax: 0370 2242512; Mobile/ WhatsApp: 08794833041; Email: spcrkohima@gmail.com; NSDMA: 0370 2381122 and 0370 2291123.

It further urged everyone to maintain calm and not believe in rumours.