Manipur: Mob storms police station, loots arms during violence in Ukhrul
This is the first time a police station was stormed in a Naga-majority area, according to a source.
IMPHAL- After violence broke out in Ukhrul town, a mob comprising mostly of youths stormed the police station located at Wino Bazar and looted arms and weapons, an official said.
The police station was looted on Wednesday hours after two civilians and a Manipur Rifles personnel were killed in a gunfight, prompting authorities to sound an alert, officials said on Thursday.
Police sources said that, the mob later stormed the police station and escaped with eight 9mm pistols, six INSAS rifles, three AK-47 rifles, two 9mm carbines, one SLR, a Sten gun, 340 INSAS rounds, 250 carbine rounds, 201 rounds of 9mm, 180 rounds of AK-47, and 10 rounds of SLR.
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This is the first time a police station was stormed in a Naga-majority area, according to a source.
“The Ukhrul police station is located a few metres away from an Assam Rifles camp,” the official said.
Looting of arms was reported from various police stations in the ethnic-strife-torn state earlier, but in all those cases the areas concerned were dominated by either Meities or Kukis, the two warring communities.
On Wednesday, Additional Director General of Police L Kailun directed all district SPs and other officers to remain on “high alert” and to ensure proper security for arms and ammunition.
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On Wednesday, three persons including a Manipur Rifles personnel were killed and more than 20 others were injured in the gunfight between two groups over cleaning a plot of land, police said.
Members of the two sides belong to the Tangkhul Naga community but are residents of different villages. Both lay claim to that land.
One of the three deceased was on-duty personnel of the Manipur Rifles, an armed force under the state government.
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Ten of the critically injured have been referred to a hospital in Imphal while others are being treated in the Ukhrul district hospital, police said.
Additional forces were also rushed to the district to bring the situation under control.
Following the violence, three Tangkhul Naga legislators had appealed to the villagers to maintain peace and “resolve the issue amicably through dialogue.”
Prohibitory orders under BNSS Section 163 have been imposed in Ukhrul town following the incident and internet services have been suspended.
