- Dead Man Talking
- (The Tonsen Survivor
telling his own story)
M. Nilakomol Singh
I am Moirangthem Nilakomol
Singh,a government employee. I was given polling duty for election to the Outer
Manipur Parliamentary Constituency to be held on 4 October at Polling Booth No.
39/22 at Sugnu. On 3 October 1999, I was travelling towards my polling station
in a bus (No. MNP 8842, officially hired for polling duty). The polling station
numbers are displayed in front of the bus with red ink. There are about 15
public servants on election duty of three polling stations, along with some
unarmed security.
Many CRPF personnel were seen
along the road ... some on their vehicle and some on foot patrol. On approaching
the Tonsen Lamkhai, at around 1.10 p.m., I saw smoke raising up from the hillock
about two hundred meters away from us and a heavy exchange of fire broke out. I
saw a CRPF truck and a jeep stationed near the waiting shed which was about a
hundred metres from us. Our bus driver tried to move back, but we were blocked
by a CRPF vehicle. We lied down inside the bus for safety. The heavy firing
continued for about 15 minutes, which was followed by intermittent firing.
After about half an hour some
CRPF personnel, who came from behind opened the door of our bus. I was kneeling
near the door. They called me out together with some other persons from the bus.
I got down along with a carry-bag.
The CRPF personnel handled us
roughly and pushed us for about a furlong. Then the CRPF personnel ordered us to
raise our hands and run. I turned towards them and prayed to them to save our
lives. The CRPF men hurled abuses on us.
I heard somebody shouting and the
CRPF personnel in lying position along the road opened fire towards us. The
first few shots missed but, as the firing continued, a bullet stuck my left arm.
I fell down facing the ground. My bag fell over my head. The driver of the bus
fell in front of me; another person fell on my right and yet another behind me.
Subsequently a few hand grenades also exploded near us.
I never lost consciousness. I
realised that I was bleeding profusely. I lied still. On hearing the foot steps
of the CRPF, I waited in fear. I prayed to God and wished only if some Manipuri
security personnel would come!
After staying for about one and
half hours in this still position, I heard some two or three vehicles
approaching. And after a while I heard some voice in Manipuri say, 'These four
persons are dead and there is nothing we can do about them'. I opened my eyes
and saw personnel of India Reserve Battalion or Rapid Action Police Force
(Commando) standing nearby. I sprang up, rushed towards them and cried out to
save my life.
The police asked, 'Are you the
extra person who the CRPF told us was present in the bus?'. I explained to them
that I was on official election duty. Thereafter they arranged for a vehicle and
dropped me at the Kakching Rural Hospital.
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