A mob tried to loot weapons from an India Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Khangabok in the Thoubal district of Manipur on Tuesday which was thwarted by Security Forces. The Spear Corps of the Indian Army said that one rioter was killed while a few others were injured during the failed attempt. It said that the mob had also laid road blocks to prevent the movement of reinforcements. However, situation was brought under control with the help of additional columns of Assam Rifles and Rapid Action Force.
"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," the Spear Corps said in a statement on Twitter.
According to a PTI report, a 27-year-old man was killed and an Assam Riles jawan was shot at, officials said. They added that the mob tried to storm the camp of the 3rd IRB batallion in the Khangabok area to loot arms and ammunition.
As a result, a clash with the forces broke out. PTI mentioned that the forces tried to bring the situation under control and used teargas shells and rubber bullets at first. However, after the armed mob opened fire, the forces shot back, officials said. They further said that the mob also blocked the roads leading to the camp at multiple locations to prevent reinforcements from reaching there, but the forces moved through.
The armed people also 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, as quoted by PTI. The jawan was shot in the leg, they said.
A man, identified as Ronaldo, was shot in the clashes. As per PTI, 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 were quoted as saying by PTI. Ten others were also injured in the clashes, they said adding that the situation is under control at present.
Manipur is reeling under the violence 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.