Manipur violence: Truck set ablaze in Kangpokpi, police check post in Jiribam
- In Reports
- 09:40 PM, Jun 20, 2024
- Myind Staff
Amidst ongoing violence in Manipur, a truck transporting goods and supplies was set on fire in Kangpokpi town at approximately 11:30 pm on Wednesday, allegedly by vandals, according to the police.
The incident occurred on National Highway 102, between Kangpokpi and Changoubung village in northern Kangpokpi district. According to Kangpokpi police, the vehicle's registration number indicated it belonged to the Meitei community.
In a separate incident, an unoccupied narcotics check post at Leingangpokpi in Jiribam district was set on fire by unidentified vandals at around 10 pm on Wednesday, police reported.
The police stated that the Manipur Fire Service and state forces were deployed to the scene, but they were attacked by armed miscreants. The state forces responded with gunfire.
No casualties were reported during the incident, said police.
The Kuki Inpi, a tribal organisation, has accused Manipur police commandos and Meitei militants of indiscriminately firing on the villagers and village volunteers of Phaitol Village in Tamenglong district, a border village between Tamenglong and Jiribam.
Meanwhile, in accordance with an agreement with district authorities of both Jiribam and Tamenglong, the joint Kuki Civil Societies of Jiribam and Tamenglong suspended their bandh on NH-37 (Imphal-Silchar to Jiribam) for two days. However, the joint body re-imposed an indefinite economic blockade along the National Highway until their demands were fulfilled.
Over 500 goods-laden trucks stranded between Leingangpokpi and Gulathol in Jiribam district in Manipur were forced to return to Jiribam after Kuki villagers blocked National Highway 37 at Tatbung in Tamenglong district on Monday.
Their demands include lifting the blockade imposed by Meitei mobs in Jiribam town, locating the missing person L Thainmuang of Jiribam, who was allegedly abducted from his house in front of his family, and arresting all Arambai Tengol and Meitei militants from Jiribam district and removing them from the area.
On Monday, Union home minister Amit Shah’s high-level security meeting, during which he announced that additional forces would be deployed in Manipur, if required, while issuing a firm directive to take strict action as per law against the perpetrators of violence.
In response, the state government has started the construction of infrastructure using pre-fabricated materials to accommodate Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at 50 different locations across 13 districts of Manipur.
On Thursday around 12 noon, a company of CAPF reported to Singjamei police station. In opposition, a large group of Meira Paibi (a women’s group) stormed the police station, insisting that the CAPF should not stay in the surrounding areas. One of the Meira Paibi leaders stated that the CAPF should be deployed in vulnerable areas, not in Imphal, where peace exists.
The agitation by Meira Paibi forced the CAPF vehicles to move away from Singjamei Police Station.
A similar protest was held by students of DM University, Imphal, who marched in a rally from Kangla Western Gate towards Raj Bhavan, Imphal. However, the Manipur police blocked the rally just opposite Raj Bhavan's main gate and dispersed the participants.
Image source: North East news
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