Manipur Police-Assam Rifles Face-Off; 15 Houses Set Ablaze, 1 Person Shot In Fresh Violence

The Manipur Police and the 9th Assam Rifles are said to have argued, with the former accusing the Indian Army-controlled soldiers of not allowing them to do their jobs in the violence-hit Bishnupur, a Meitei-dominated district adjacent to Churachandpur. Authorities said fifteen houses were set ablaze in the Imphal West district of Manipur.

On Saturday, a video allegedly depicting a dispute between soldiers and police officers surfaced online. According to a defense officer with knowledge of the situation, Assam Rifles soldiers were obeying the directive. Vehicles were stationed on the route to ensure that the Combined Headquarters’ deployed buffer zone was not violated. According to protocol, the role of the central forces is to guarantee the rigorous application of the buffer zone and to stop members of either community from moving closer one another in order to maintain peace and stability.
HT repeatedly asked the Manipur Police and the Spears Corps of the Indian Army for a comment, but neither organization responded.

According to local media sources, a handful Casper armored vehicles from the 9th Assam Rifles closed down Kwakta Gothol Road in Bishnupur.

Young man shot

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The argument broke out after three persons, including a young man who was shot twice in the left knee, were slain and one police commando, Paonam Apallo, 32, was hurt by suspected militants early on Saturday. A woman also had a bullet wound to the thigh.

The Assam Rifles were allegedly complicit in blocking the Gothol route alongside Kuki militants, according to the Manipur Police, led by Shakti Sen.
The 37 Assam Rifles and the Manipur Police got into a similar confrontation at Sugnu Police Station in June.

New violence is reported in Manipur

In the Imphal West district of Manipur, where new violence erupted, fifteen homes were set ablaze, according to authorities

According to them, the incident occurred on Saturday night at Langol Games village when a mob went on the rampage. To disperse the mob and handle the situation, security forces fired numerous rounds of tear gas shells.

During the fighting, a 45-year-old guy was shot. Officials indicated that he is now not in danger despite having bullet wounds to his left thigh when he was admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

On Sunday morning, the situation got better, but the limitations were still in place, they claimed.
Authorities claimed there had been new reports of violence in the Checkon neighborhood of the Imphal East district, where a sizable business was set on fire on Saturday.

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They added that firemen put out the fire after learning that three other homes had also been set on fire. On Saturday night, a gunfight between security personnel and terrorists broke out in the Kangpokpi district.

The violence was reported during the 24-hour nationwide strike that the coordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies ordered, which on Saturday rendered life as usual in the Imphal valley impossible.

Over 160 people have died as a result of the ethnic hostilities in Manipur, which began on May 3 and have lasted for the past three months.