Imphal: Following the vandalism of a makeshift Assam Rifles camp in Manipur‘s Kamjong district by an angry mob on Saturday, paramilitary forces vacated the premises on Sunday, officials confirmed.
Citing alleged harassment and restrictions on timber transportation, a mob stormed and destroyed the camp located in Hongbei village on Saturday.
An agreement was reached during a Sunday meeting between representatives of Tangkhul Naga civil society groups and Assam Rifles, along with the Kamjong district superintendent of police and deputy commissioner.
The official stated that the situation remained calm and no untoward incidents were reported on Sunday.
Following the establishment of a checkpoint and a temporary camp at Hongbei by the Assam Rifles, residents of nearby villages accused the paramilitary force of harassment and restrictions on their movement.
On Saturday, residents of Kasom Khullen block, located within the Naga-majority district, forcibly entered and dismantled the makeshift camp of the 40 Assam Rifles.
Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles refuted allegations of harassment and restrictions, stating that on January 11, their personnel at the Hongbei post inspected a vehicle transporting timber and found it lacked the necessary documentation. Following standard procedures, the vehicle was stopped.
The paramilitary force accused “nefarious elements” of inciting the local population to pressure Assam Rifles personnel into releasing the vehicle.
They also claimed that the crowd subsequently turned violent, prompting Assam Rifles personnel to employ an “appropriate and calibrated response.”
To disperse the protesters, Assam Rifles personnel resorted to the use of tear gas shells and fired rounds into the air. No injuries were reported during the incident.
ALSO READ: Manipur: Mob destroys Assam Rifles camp over timber transportation dispute
Notably, the Assam Rifles are deployed in various parts of violence-hit Manipur.
Since May 2023, Manipur has been plagued by ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities, resulting in over 250 deaths and displacing thousands.
