During the night of June 16, automatic gunfire was reported from Kwakta in Manipur’s Bishnupur district and Kangvai in Churachandpur district.
On June 16, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) used rubber bullets and tear gas on a mob of 1,000 people who attempted arson in Imphal’s Palace Compound neighbourhood. At least two civilians were injured. The RAF also dispersed another mob of roughly 300 people who attempted to vandalise Minister Thongam Biswajit’s house in Thongju late at night.
Several episodes of attempted violence and mob-building were reported across Imphal last night. Mobs had assembled to vandalise State BJP president A. Sharda Devi’s house near Porompat in Imphal, while an Army column dispersed another mob that had gheraoed the BJP office in Singjamei.
Manipur Violence has been going on since May 3 and there is no stop to it.
Later, flag marches were held in Imphal East district by joint columns of the Army, Assam Rifles, RAF, and police.
Throughout the night, automatic gunfire was recorded from Kwakta in Manipur’s Bishnupur district and Kangvai in Churachandpur district.
Weapons were also stolen from the Iringbam police station in Imphal West. No weapons, however, were taken.
Crowds had earlier set up roadblocks and set fire to homes in the centre of Imphal town on Friday, according to officials.
On Thursday night, for example, a residence belonging to Union Minister R.K. Ranjan Singh was attacked and attempted to be burned down. On Friday, a storehouse near the royal palace belonging to a former tribal IAS officer was completely destroyed by fire.
Security guards and firefighters were able to prevent a mob from setting fire to the house of the Minister of State for External Affairs here on Thursday night.
On Friday evening, a mob clashed with RAF officers after setting fire to the warehouse. Officials said the group also burned tyres, logs, and rubbish in the middle of roads in Wangkhei, Porompat, and Thangapat regions, disrupting traffic flow in Manipur’s capital town.
More than 100 people have died in Manipur’s ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which erupted a month ago.
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