Manipur: Fresh Violence In Imphal, BJP Office Attacked, Police Use Tear Gas To Disperse Mob

Manipur Violence: Police used tear gas shells to disperse the mob who clashed with cops when the body of a man killed in a gunfight in Kangpokpi district was brought to Imphal.

Fresh violence erupted in Manipur's Imphal on Thursday evening after a mob clashed with police when the body of two people killed in a gunfight in Kangpokpi district was brought at Khwairanband Bazaar. 

The members of the community to which the two deceased belonged wanted to carry the body in a procession to the Chief Minister's residence but faced resistance from the police, who used tear gas shells to disperse the mob. Amid the ruckus, a BJP office was also attacked.

Visuals from the area showed police using several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The situation has now been brought under control.

More than 100 people have lost their lives and and nearly 40,000 displaced since ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities erupted in May in Manipur.

Earlier in the day, one person was killed and a few others were injured when a group of protesters opened fire at Haraothel village in Kangpokpi district.

In a post on Twitter, the Indian Army's Spear Corps said armed rioters opened unprovoked firing at 5.30 am.

"Own troops deployed in the area immediately mobilised to prevent escalation of situation. While enroute to the site, own columns drew effective fire from armed rioters," the Army's 'Spear Corps' said.

The Army said the troops responded in a calibrated manner to prevent any collateral damage.

In the evening, the Army said there was a "buildup of mob in the area to interfere with operations by security forces" in east of village K Munlai. However, the situation was effectively controlled.

"At approx 4 PM, troops deployed in the area heard firing from east of village K Munlai. Further. At approx 5.15 PM, exchange of fire reported from direction of village Bethel, south of National Sports University. Own columns are dominating the area to de-escalate the situation," it said.

The area is around 20 km from capital city of Imphal.

Violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 during a "Tribal Solidarity March" in protest against the Meiteis’ demand of Scheduled Tribes (ST) status. Tension in the state had been already simmering in view of the eviction of Kuki villagers from the reserve forest lands.