Armed miscreants threaten shopkeepers at Imphal
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 22 2023: Fresh violence broke out in the heart of Imphal East district after a few armed Kuki youths threatened shopkeepers and women vendors at New Checkon under Porompat police station this morning.

According to information culled from the spot, the incident happened at around 10.30 am when three armed Kukis came to the tribal market shed of New Checkon and threatened women vendors to close the market or face dire consequences.

As the women vendors protested, a heated argument ensued after which the armed Kuki youths left the area in a hurry.

Soon after, information about the incident spread like a wildfire and locals of the surrounding area gathered at the spot demanding arrest of those involved in threatening the locals.

Armed miscreants threaten shopkeepers at Imphal

Central armed police personnel who were deployed at the place cordoned off the area and prevented others from proceeding to the place where the armed Kuki youths were residing.

Reinforcement team of Central armed police rushed to the area and started dispersing the mob.

In the meantime, a combined team of Central armed police and Imphal East police went inside New Lambulane and carried out a search operation to arrest those involved in threatening women vendors.

At the same time, some unknown persons burned down one house at New Checkon which was destroyed in the early part of the violence and later the fire spread to the nearby houses.

Central armed police personnel, in order to bring the situation under control, rushed to the spot and dispersed the mob by firing some rounds of bullet in the air.

Reinforcement team of Manipur Police led by IGP Zone I Themthing Ngasangva also rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.

Media persons who went to the spot to cover the incident were prevented by Central armed police and Assam Rifles personnel from going near the spot where a house was burnt.

Security personnel deployed at important junctions prevented mobs coming from different directions from approaching the spot by firing live rounds and tear gas shells.

Even as fire tenders of Manipur Fire Service rushed to the spot to bring the fire under control, they were prevented by the mob from going inside New Checkon area after which they parked their vehicles near the northern gate of City Convention Centre.

Fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control only after the angry mob was dispersed by security personnel.

Later, three persons including an ex-MLA who were allegedly involved in threatening the women vendors and shopkeepers were arrested by security personnel along with two single barrel guns.

The three persons have been identified as T Thangzalan Haokip (71) (Ex-MLA, Henglep A/C) s/o late Thongzachin Haokip of New Lambulane, Checkon, Johnlalkhopao Gangte (19) s/o Mary Gangte of New Lambulane, Checkon and Vicky Mangoulam Singson (35) s/o Thannga Singson New Lambulane.

Three media persons of different firms who were covering the incident were physically assaulted by Central armed police and Assam Rifles personnel apart from snatching their mobile phones and cameras and forcing them to delete videos and photos.

Due to the fresh violence, curfew relaxation was shortened from 4 pm to 1 pm in Imphal East and 4 pm to 2 pm in Imphal West today.

Central Control Room in-charge Ak Jhalajit has clarified that the rumour of two persons having been killed in the New Checkon incident this morning is absolutely false and there is no casualty as such.