The Manipur Police and the 9th Assam Rifles reportedly got into a fight, with the former blaming the Indian Army-controlled soldiers of not letting them do their jobs in the violence-plagued Bishnupur, a Meitei-dominated district bordering Churachandpur.
A video that surfaced on Saturday apparently depicted a confrontation between soldiers and police officers. According to a defense officer familiar with the situation, Assam Rifles soldiers were obeying the command. “Vehicles were parked on the road so that the Combined Headquarters’ buffer zone deployment was not violated.” The purpose of central forces, according to protocol, is to maintain strict enforcement of the buffer zone and to prohibit movement of members of either community towards each other for peace and stability.”
Despite repeated pleas, neither the Manipur Police nor the Spears Corps of the Indian Army responded.
According to local media sources, a handful Casper armored vehicles from the 9th Assam Rifles closed down Kwakta Gothol Road in Bishnupur.
The argument broke out after three persons, including a young man who was shot twice in the left knee, were slain and one police commando, Paonam Apallo, 32, was hurt by suspected militants early on Saturday. A woman also had a bullet wound to the thigh.
The Assam Rifles were allegedly complicit in blocking the Gothol route alongside Kuki militants, according to the Manipur Police, led by Shakti Sen.
A similar argument between the 37 Assam Rifles and Manipur Police took place at Sugnu Police Station in June.
In the Imphal West district of Manipur, where new violence erupted, fifteen homes were set ablaze, according to authorities, news agency reported on Sunday.
According to them, the incident occurred on Saturday night at Langol Games village when a mob went on the rampage. To disperse the mob and handle the situation, security forces fired numerous rounds of tear gas shells.
During the fighting, a 45-year-old guy was shot. Officials indicated that he is now not in danger despite having bullet wounds to his left thigh when he was admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
On Sunday morning, the situation got better, but the limitations were still in place, they claimed.
Authorities claimed there had been new reports of violence in the Checkon neighborhood of the Imphal East district, where a sizable business was set on fire on Saturday.
They added that firemen put out the fire after learning that three other homes had also been set on fire. On Saturday night, a gunfight between security personnel and terrorists broke out in the Kangpokpi district.
The violence was reported during the 24-hour nationwide strike that the coordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies ordered, which on Saturday rendered life as usual in the Imphal valley impossible.
Over 160 people have died as a result of the ethnic hostilities in Manipur, which began on May 3 and have lasted for the past three months.
