Assam Rifles vacates camp attacked by mob in Manipur

A day after a makeshift camp of the Assam Rifles was vandalised by an irate mob in Manipur’s Kamjong district, personnel of the paramilitary force vacated the premises on Sunday, officials said.

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The mob on Saturday stormed the camp located at Hongbei village and destroyed it over alleged harassment and restrictions on the transportation of timber. An understanding was reached between both sides during a meeting in which representatives of the Tangkhul Naga civil society groups and Assam Rifles, besides Kamjong district superintendent of police and deputy commissioner took part on Sunday, an official said.

“The situation remained calm and no untoward incident was reported on Sunday,” the official said. The Assam Rifles had established a checkpoint and constructed a temporary camp at Hongbei following which residents of neighbouring villages accused the paramilitary force of harassment and restricting their movement.

Villagers from Kasom Khullen block in the Naga-majority district stormed the makeshift camp of the 40 Assam Rifles and dismantled it on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles dismissed allegations of harassment and restrictions and clarified, “On January 11, Assam Rifles personnel manning the post at Hongbei inspected a vehicle and discerned that the vehicle loaded with timber did not have mandated documents. Following procedures, the personnel stopped the vehicle.” The paramilitary force alleged that “nefarious elements instigated the local population to force Assam Rifles personnel to release the vehicle” and claimed “the crowd turned violent and Assam Rifles personnel used appropriate and calibrated response”.

The Assam Rifles personnel used tear gas shells and fired in the air to disperse the protesters. No casualty was reported in the incident. The Assam Rifles has been in the grip of ethnic violence between the Kukis and Meiteis that left over 250 people killed and thousands homeless since May 2023.