IMPHAL: A massive deployment of security forces has been made in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district after a violent mob attack on the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Prabhakar.
The mob reportedly acted in protest against the continued deployment of central armed forces in the region, as demanded by Kuki groups, officials said on Saturday.
The attack occurred on Friday evening when protesters targeted the SP’s office, throwing stones, petrol bombs, and other projectiles.
Vehicles parked within the compound were vandalised, and SP Prabhakar sustained a forehead injury after being hit by a projectile.
Authorities responded by deploying a large contingent of security personnel to restore order.
A senior official in Imphal confirmed that the situation is now under control and closely monitored.
According to police statements, security forces used adequate force to disperse the mob.
The SP, who is reported to be in stable condition, is actively leading the joint forces in managing the volatile situation.
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Several protesters who were injured during the clashes have been hospitalised.
Tensions have been running high in Kangpokpi following an incident on December 31, when women from the Kuki community were allegedly baton-charged by security forces for blocking their movement.
Locals claim the action injured several people, sparking widespread outrage.
The protest stemmed from a perceived “forceful occupation” of community bunkers by central forces in Saibol village, located in the buffer zone between Kuki-dominated hill areas and the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley.
Security forces had earlier conducted operations in the area following gunfights between armed groups, which left four individuals, including a police officer, injured.
In response to the December 31 incident, the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) imposed a blockade on National Highway 2, a critical supply route for goods into the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley.
The blockade has further escalated tensions in the region.
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Meanwhile, security forces on Friday recovered a significant cache of weapons and ammunition from the Loibol Khunou area in Kangpokpi district.
The recovered items included a modified 7.62mm sniper rifle, an improvised mortar known locally as “pumpi,” three 9mm pistols with magazines, a 12-bore gun, an SBBL gun, 10 live rounds, three hand grenades, three picket grenades, two tear gas grenades, and a wireless communication set.
Ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities has ravaged Manipur since May 2023, claiming more than 250 lives and displacing thousands from their homes.
The clashes have further deepened divisions in the state, necessitating heightened security measures to prevent further violence.
