Manipur: Security beefed up after mob attacks SP’s office in Kangpokpi

IMPHAL-  Security has been   heightened in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district after a violent mob attacked the SP Office  on Friday evening,  injuring  M Prabhakar, Superintendent of Police. The mob also vandalized vehicles and hurled petrol bombs, escalating the situation. Security forces intervened, using force to disperse the crowd and restore order.

A senior official confirmed that a large contingent of security forces was deployed in the area to restore order. “The situation is now under control and is being closely monitored,” the official said, adding that the SP was stable and currently leading joint security operations. Authorities are investigating the incident and monitoring the situation closely.

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Several protesters who were injured during the skirmishes were taken to a nearby hospital, officials reported.

The unrest stems from growing tensions over the deployment of central forces in Kuki-majority areas, particularly following an incident on December 31, where Kuki women were allegedly baton-charged by security forces while protesting the occupation of community bunkers by the forces in Saibol village.

The incident escalated as the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), a Kuki-based organization, blocked National Highway 2, disrupting transportation to the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley. Locals claimed the December 31 incident left several injured and fueled resentment against the security forces.

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In response to these tensions, security forces recovered a significant cache of weapons, including a modified 7.62 mm sniper rifle, an improvised long-range mortar known as a ‘pumpi,’ three 9mm pistols with magazines, a 12-bore gun, an SBBL gun, 10 live rounds of ammunition, three hand grenades, three picket grenades, two tear gas grenades, and a wireless set.

Since May 2023, ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities has resulted in over 250 deaths and left thousands displaced. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with an aim to restore peace and stability in the region.