Manipur Violence: According to police, on Thursday, when ethnic violence struck Manipur‘s Bishnupur district, 500 individuals attacked an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) camp at Naranseina in more than 40 vehicles and on foot, looting weapons and ammunition, including mortars and assault rifles.
Attackers Overpower Guard and Seize a Lethal Arsenal
According to the 2nd IRB battalion quartermaster O Premananda Singh’s statement to Moirang police station, the attackers entered the camp around 9:45 am and overpowered the quarter guard and the sentry at the main gate. “They broke two of the doors of battalion armed Kote [armoury] and looted a large number of arms, ammunition, munitions, and other accessories…320 rounds of ammunition and 20 tear smoke shells were fired to control the mob,” the complaint said. Assault rifles, pistols, magazines, mortars, detonators, hand grenades, explosives, carbines, light machine guns, and more than 19,000 rounds of ammunition were among the weapons and ammunition taken, according to an annexure stating the amount of items taken. Among the weapons taken were one assault rifle from the AK series, 25 INSAS rifles, 4 Ghatak rifles, 5 INSAS LMGs, 5 MP-5 rifles, 124 hand grenades, 21 SMC carbines, 195 SLRs, 16 9mm pistols, 134 detonators, 23 GF rifles, and 81 51mm HE bombs.
Security Forces Foil Mob Attacks on Manipur Rifles Battalion
On Thursday, security personnel prevented mobs—including women—from attacking a Manipur Rifles battalion at Kabo Leikai and Khabeisoi villages in Imphal East district and the Singjamei police station by firing tear gas shells in various locations. Since ethnic conflict between the predominate Metei and Kuki communities broke out on May 3, mobs have invaded police stations and armouries, looting about 4,000 firearms and 500,000 rounds of ammunition. 150 individuals have died as a result of the violence, and nearly 50,000 people have been displaced. Only about 1,000 of the weapons could be found by authorities till the end of the previous month. When the planned mass burial of Kuki victims of the violence in the adjoining Churachandpur was postponed for a week, there was increased security in the area.
Increased Security Measures in Manipur Amidst Burial Controversy
The authorities increased security in Imphal, Bishnupur, and Churachanpur in response to Meitei organisations’ objections to the burials. The interment were postponed as a result of discussions that went on all night between the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), security personnel, the state government, and the Union home ministry. “Status quo ante” was mandated at the burial location by the Manipur high court. When Meitei groups opposed to the mass burial tried to enter Churachandpur through barricaded areas and flung stones at Assam Rifles and Rapid Action Force members who deployed tear gas shells to disperse the mob, at least 30 women suffered minor injuries. A group of Kuki organisations known as ITLF said on Monday that 35 victims had been buried close to the homes of displaced Meiteis. In hospitals in Churachandpur and Imphal, at least 87 remains have been left unclaimed.
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