Mob attacks Assam Rifles camp in Manipur's Senapati, torches security vehicles

A mob attacked an Assam Rifles camp hurled stones and torched three vehicles of security personnel outside the facility in Manipurs Senapati district hours after a search operation was conducted in an area officials said on WednesdayThe violence occurred at the district town camp of the paramilitary force at 930 pm on Tuesday when the mob attacked it they saidThe situation was brought under control after security forces fired tear gas shells and dispersed the crowd by midnight one of the officials saidNo casualty was reported in the incident he said adding that the situation in Senapati district is now peaceful and under controlBased on credible intelligence inputs regarding the presence of armed cadres in the general area of Makuilongdi nearly 2 km west of a designated NSCN IM camp at Oklong an area domination patrol and search operation were launched by the Assam Rifles a defence statement saidIntelligence reports and the social media posts indicated the presence of armed cadres moving outside designated camps carrying weapons and wearing uniforms in apparent violation of established ceasefire ground rules another official said adding that the reported violations were formally informed to the Ceasefire Monitoring GroupDuring the course of the operation the Assam Rifles columns approached Makuilongdi and Oklong villages and residents including women obstructed themAs tensions escalated reports emerged at around 9 pm that a large crowd gathered in Senapati town and prepared to march towards the Assam Rifles camp in Naga Taphou area the official saidDespite the withdrawal of the columns a large mob reached the camp at around 930 pm hurled stones damaging property and attempting acts of arson the statement saidThe mob vandalised and damaged Assam Rifles vehicles it said adding that one light vehicle was set ablaze while two trucks were overturned and damaged A private car was also burnt during the violenceA waiting shed in front of the camp was also torched by the mob it saidThe Senapati district police and CRPF were immediately deployed to help the security personnel control the situation he saidIn coordination with the Manipur Police minimum force was deployed and tear gas shells and blank rounds were fired to disperse the violent crowd and prevent further escalation the statement saidNo casualties were reported and efforts to address concerns and maintain communal harmony have been undertaken with civil society organisations and the district authorities it addedOn July 6 two Assam Rifles personnel were killed when suspected militants ambushed a convoy at Shangshak near Nungshang Khong about 17 km from the Ukhrul district headquarters and three persons were detained in connection with itSecurity forces have been conducting search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable localities across Manipur since ethnic violence broke out three years agoMore than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Meiteis and KukiZo groupsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever