Manipur Violence: Mob Sets House Of IRB Jawan On Fire After He Thwarts Bid To Loot Arms

The security forces on Tuesday tried to bring the situation under control and had to resort to teargas shells and rubber bullets. However, as the armed mob opened fire, the forces shot back.

Tyres and construction materials set on fire by miscreants amid ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: The house of an India Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawan was set on fire by a mob in Manipur's Thoubal district after he foiled the attempts of rioters to loot firearms from the police armoury, news agency PTI reported. The incident took place at Samaram on Tuesday after a 27-year-old man named Ronaldo was killed when a clash broke out between security forces and around 700 rioters who tried to storm the camp of the 3rd IRB at Wangbal in a bid to loot firearms from the police armoury.

The IRB jawan performed his duty well and did not allow the rioters to loot the police weapons store, security officials said. He was a part of the IRB unit guarding the armoury, officials added.

According to the officials, the security forces on Tuesday tried to bring the situation under control and had to resort to teargas shells and rubber bullets. However, as the armed mob opened fire, the forces shot back.

The rioters also blocked the roads leading to the camp at multiple locations to prevent reinforcements from reaching there, but the forces moved through, officials said.

The agitating mob then attacked a team of Assam Rifles that was on the way to the camp. They fired on the personnel, in which a jawan was injured, and also torched their vehicle, officials said. The jawan was shot in the leg.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo was rushed to the Thoubal district hospital, but he was later referred to a hospital in Imphal as his condition was critical. He succumbed to his injury on the way to the state capital, officials said.

Ten others were also injured in the clashes and six of them with serious injuries were admitted to a hospital in Imphal, according to the report.

The situation is under control at present, the officials added.