Two civilians were injured in a fresh round of violence in Manipur after mobs clashed with security forces overnight in capital Imphal, reported PTI. The mob also attempted to torch the houses of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders, the news agency reported citing officials. Automatic gunfire was reported from Kwakta in the Bishnupur district of Manipur and Kangvai in the Churachandpur district through the night. PTI stated citing officials that an attempt was also made to loot weapons from Iringbam police station in Imphal West. However, no weapons were stolen.
Security forces including Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Rapid Action Force held joint marches till midnight through the state capital to halt rioters from congregating. The report said that a mob of approximately 1,000 people came together to try and burn down buildings near the palace compound.
Another mob tried to set the house of MLA Biswajeet on fire. But an RAF column managed to disperse the crowd. PTI stated that another mob surrounded the BJP office post midnight at Sinjemai, but could not do any harm as Army dispersed the crowd.
RAF continuously fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Similarly, a crowd tried to vandalise the home of BJP (women's wing) president, Sharda Devi near Porampet in Imphal around midnight.
Earlier in the day, crowds set up roadblocks and torched properties in Imphal town on Friday, officials said.
Among other such incidents, a house belonging to Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh was attacked and attempts were made to burn it down on Thursday night. Similarly, a warehouse near the royal palace belonging to a retired tribal IAS officer was burnt down completely on Friday, mentioned the PTI report.
A mob also clashed with RAF personnel on Friday evening after it had set the warehouse afire. The group also burnt tyres, logs and waste in the middle of roads in Wangkhei, Porompat and Thangapat areas hitting the flow of traffic in Manipur's capital town, officials said, as quoted by PTI.
So far, over 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur that began a month ago. Manipur government has imposed a curfew on 11 districts and banned internet services in an attempt to control the spread of rumours in the state.
Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
According to PTI, Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals - Nagas and Kukis - constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.