A large mob attacked and destroyed a makeshift camp of the Assam Rifles in Manipur’s Kamjong district on Saturday, following allegations of harassment and restrictions placed on timber transportation, officials reported.
The assailants were identified as residents from the Kasom Khullen block of the predominantly Naga district. Tensions rose when Assam Rifles soldiers reportedly stopped the movement of timber meant for residential construction in the area.
In an attempt to control the situation, Assam Rifles personnel resorted to firing tear gas shells and shooting into the air to disperse the crowd. The protesters subsequently laid waste to the paramilitary camp and demanded the removal of the forces from their vicinity.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported during the incident.
The Assam Rifles are one of the Central forces deployed in various regions of Manipur, which has been embroiled in ethnic violence between the Kukis and Meiteis since May 2023, resulting in over 250 fatalities and displacing thousands of residents.
Published – January 12, 2025 02:45 am IST
