IT News
Imphal, Jan 4:
Authorities have ramped up security in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district following a violent mob attack on the office of Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Prabhakar. The attack, which took place on Friday evening, saw protesters hurl stones, petrol bombs, and other projectiles, leaving vehicles vandalized and the SP injured.
The mob was reportedly protesting the continued deployment of central armed forces in the region, a demand raised by Kuki groups, officials stated on Saturday. SP Prabhakar, who sustained a forehead injury, is reported to be in stable condition and is actively leading joint security operations in the district.
A senior official in Imphal confirmed that the situation is now under control, with additional forces deployed to maintain peace. Police reported using adequate force to disperse the crowd, and several protesters injured during the clashes have been hospitalized.
Tensions in Kangpokpi have been on the rise since December 31, when a baton charge by security forces against women from the Kuki community during a road blockade sparked widespread outrage. The blockade was in response to the alleged forceful occupation of bunkers set up by Kuki insurgents by central forces in Saibol village, located in a buffer zone between Kuki-dominated hills and the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley.
Adding to the unrest, armed Kuki combatants in military fatigues were seen among the protesters during the SP office attack. The area has witnessed multiple operations by security forces following gunfights between armed groups, which recently left four people, including a police officer, injured.
In a separate development, security forces recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition from Loibol Khunou in Kangpokpi on Friday. The seized items included a modified sniper rifle, improvised mortar, pistols, grenades, and a wireless communication set, underscoring the volatile situation.
The Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) has also imposed a blockade on National Highway 2, a critical supply route for the Imphal Valley, further escalating tensions.
