Thoubal (Manipur): Intermittent firings were witnessed in two places in Manipur, the latest being in the early hours of Wednesday, but no casualties have been reported so far, security sources said here. The latest firing incident was reported around 4.30 am on Wednesday along the ridge line, East of Phaileng. The other incident of intermittent firing was reported between two communities in the Khoijumtambi area from 7 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, a mob allegedly tried to loot weapons from a camp of the Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) in Manipur's Thoubal district leading to a clash with the security forces in which a 27-year-old man was killed and an Assam Riles jawan shot at, officials said. The mob tried to storm the camp of 3rd IRB batallion in the Khangabok area to loot arms and ammunition, they said.
Soon, a clash with the forces broke out. The forces tried to bring the situation under control and used teargas shells and rubber bullets at first. But as the armed mob opened fire, the forces shot back, officials said. The mob also blocked the roads leading to the camp at multiple locations to prevent reinforcements from reaching there, but the forces moved through, they said.
The mob attacked a team of the Assam Rifles that was on the way to the camp. They fired on the Assam Rifles personnel, in which a jawan was injured, and torched their vehicle, officials said. The jawan was shot in the leg, they said. In the clashes, a man, identified as Ronaldo, was shot. He was first taken to the Thoubal district hospital, but later referred to a hospital in Imphal as his condition was critical. He died on the way to the state capital, officials said.
The mob also torched the house of an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel in Manipur's Thoubal district after a 27-year-old man was killed in a clash.
The Spear Corps of the Indian Army said "An attempt to loot weapons from an India Reserve Battalion at Khangabok in Thoubal district of Manipur was successfully thwarted by Security Forces today. One rioter was killed while few others were injured during the failed attempt. Mob had laid road blocks to prevent movement of reinforcements. However, additional columns of Assam Rifles and Rapid Action Force were able to induct and situation was brought under control by synergised efforts of Security Forces."
Ten others were also injured in the clashes, they said. The situation is under control at present, they added. Violence first broke out in the state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. So far, more than 100 people have died and several hundred injured, besides thousands taking shelter in relief camps.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. (With Agency Inputs)
