IMPHAL: Six individuals have been apprehended in connection with the arms theft at the 5th IRB in Manipur’s Chingarel, while one person died after police resorted to force to dispel a “violent mob” at Manipur Police Training College (MPTC), the state police has said
The post further disclosed the recovery of four Insas Rifles, one AK Ghatak 2, magazines of SLR, and 16 small boxes of 9mm ammunition, all suspected to have been looted from the 5th IRB.
The six suspects, now in police custody following a judicial magistrate’s order, are expected to undergo thorough interrogation as investigations progress, a social media post by Manipur police informed.
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Reportedly, approximately 300 weapons and thousands of ammunitions were looted from the IRB camp on the night of February 13.
Following the incident, a large number of “village volunteers” also attempted to barge in at MPTC at Pangei in Imphal East district, located around 5 km from Chingarel.
“On Tuesday, in order to repel violent mobs including armed miscreants trying to storm MPTC, Pangei, security forces resorted to the use of legal force. During the incident, one person succumbed to injuries and three persons sustained injuries,” another post by the Manipur police informed.
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The attacks on the armouries came on the heels of a fierce gunfight in the buffer zone between Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts since February 11, resulting in the death of two village volunteers from the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
Additionally, reports have also emerged of three elderly women succumbing to suspected hypertension during the relentless attacks at Sugnu village in Kakching district on Wednesday night.
Identified as Khaidem Achoubi (74), Laishram Dashu-mati Devi (60), and Thongam Chaoba Devi (80), the women lost their lives amidst the chaos.
As security forces strive to restore calm and security in the region, further details remain awaited.
