Manipur: Mob Attacks Kangpokpi SP's Office Over 'Failure' To Remove Central Forces From Saibol Village

The office of the Superintendent of Police in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district was attacked by a mob on Friday evening allegedly because the public previously demanded the removal of central force from Saibol village that borders with Imphal East district in the troubles state and it has not been fulfilled yet.

The Press Trust of India in a report said that several people were reportedly injured in the attack.

The security forces allegedly baton-charged on women in Saibol village on December 31 according to some Kuki organisations who have have been protesting against it in the area.

What Happened In Kangpokpi SP's Office?

The attackers threw stones and other projectiles towards the office to vent their anger over the continued deployment of central forces particularly the BSF and the CRPF in the village, reportedly.

Vehicles of district police kept within the compound of the SP’s office have also been damaged.

An official told PTI that Prabhakar who was injured after being hit on the forehead by some projectile was taken to a hospital.

Additional central forces were rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.

A large number of protesters started gathering in front of the SP’s office since the afternoon demanding that central forces be removed from the village.

Situation In Manipur

Last week, security forces had conducted operations at the village and its peripheral areas following gunfights between groups that led to injuries to four people including a police personnel.

Following the operations, Kangpokpi district based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) imposed indefinite economic blockade along the critical transportation route of National Highway 2 (Imphal to Dimapur). COTU also observed a 24-hour shutdown in the district on Friday.

On the December 31 incident at Saibol, Manipur police had said that security forces resorted to firing of tear gas shells after a group of women attempted to block the movement of a combined team of state and central forces.

More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur since May 2023.