Imphal, July 24: Six personnel of the 8th Manipur Rifles were suspended today on charges of assaulting two civilians yesterday, after residents of Tadubi in Senapati district erupted over the incident.

The residents of Mao and Tadubi blocked the Imphal-Kohima highway in protest, not allowing supply trucks to pass through the area since last evening. The roadblock continued today and more than 100 supply trucks bound for Imphal were stranded at Mao.

A team of 8th Manipur Rifles was heading for Mao, which shares its border with Nagaland, to escort oil tankers to Imphal. One of the eight vehicles grazed a civilian’s car coming from the opposite direction at Tadubi. Three Manipur Riles vehicles chased the car, assaulted its two occupants and handed them over to Mao police station. The residents of the district are demanding termination of service of the personnel.

The director-general of police, Yumnam Joykumar Singh, today sent the commandant of 8th Manipur Rifles, I.K. Muivah, to Senapati to settle the matter. Confirming the suspension of the six personnel involved in the case, Joykumar Singh said they would take the necessary action after an inquiry.

In an unrelated incident, the residents of Tongbram Leikai of Imphal West today blocked the Imphal-Jiribam highway in protest against the killing of a youth by police last night.

The police gunned down Pebam Bonil, 29, at Khurai in Imphal East. The police said one of the three youths, on a two-wheeler, fired at a police team and was shot dead in retaliation, while the other two escaped.