A group of rioters attacked the 5th Indian Reserve Battalion station at Chingarel Tezpur in Manipur’s Imphal district on Tuesday night. One volunteer was killed and two others were injured in the attack.
The incident took place around 10 pm on Tuesday. It is said that the assailants attacked the battalion Truff and looted the arms and ammunition there.
The deceased has been identified as 24-year-old Okram Sanatan. Okram hails from the Pangey Okram Laikei area of Imphal district. He died of his injuries during the attack. It is reported that two injured others have been admitted to the hospital.
Among the weapons looted by the attackers were six AK-47 guns, four carbines, three rifles, and two light machine guns and ammunition, local police sources said.
The Chingarel Tezpur area has been witness to mob violence since the communal conflict erupted in the northeastern state in May last year.
So far, at least 180 people have lost their lives in ethnic clashes between Kuki and Maithei communities in Manipur. Maitheis constitute more than 50% of the state’s population. They are the majority in the valley districts including Imphal district where the gang attack took place on Tuesday night.
Biren Singh’s government has urged the people to return the weapons looted by the group. However, only 1% of the looted weapons have been recovered by the state police so far.
