Imphal, March 14: Five persons were injured when police resorted to lathicharge at the main shopping complex here to disperse a mob protesting the recent spate of killings by the Assam Rifles.

Witnesses said the protestors had gathered to perform the last rites of Kh. Tejkumar Singh, resident of Uripok in Imphal West, who was killed by the Assam Rifles in an alleged fake encounter on March 9.

The trouble began when the mob, including a large number of meira paibis (women activists), entered the main shopping area of the city and forced some of the shops to down shutters. When they started damaging goods and property, police resorted to lathicharge and fired in the air to bring the crowd under control.

The five injured persons were admitted to the local hospital.