Tensions ease as Assam Rifles vacate Hongbei
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, January 12 2025:
Tensions in Hongbei village eased on Sunday after the Assam Rifles personnel withdrew from the village following Saturday's confrontation between local residents and troops stationed at a makeshift post over unwarranted detentions and harassment of locals.
The development came after intervention from Tangkhul civil society organisations (CSOs), who communicated the locals' demand for the Assam Rifles troops to vacate the village and relocate to their designated camps.
Highly-placed sources informed The People's Chronicle that normalcy returned to Hongbei village in Kasom Khullen subdivision, after the Assam Rifles vacated their makeshift camp around 11:30 am on Sunday.
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Tangkhul civil society organisations (CSOs) including the Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long (TNAL), Tangkhul Katarnnao Saklong (TKS), Aze Katarnnao Long (AKL), and Zingsho Katamnao Long (ZKL) and other civil organisations from Kasom Khullen areas, swiftly arrived in Hongbei village to monitor the situation since Saturday.
On Sunday morning, during a discussion with Somsai-head-quartered 10 Sector Assam Rifles DIG, the CSO leaders communicated the locals' urgent demand for immediate withdrawal of troops from the village.
Subsequently, the Assam Rifles personnel packed their belongings and vacated the camp, said the sources.
Meanwhile, a meeting involving both Tangkhul CSOs and Assam Rifles officials is scheduled for Monday at TNL office to discuss the matter.
The situation escalated on Saturday when Assam Rifles personnel detained a local resident transporting timber for house construction on the ground that the individual did not possess a transit permit.
Local MLA Leishiyo Keishing, who was in the area for personal reasons, was alerted to the detention by the locals.
He rushed to the spot and negotiated with the post commander of the Assam Rifles to secure release of the individual who was only transporting timber for construction of his house.
However, despite the MLA's intervention, the post commander refused to comply.
Peeved with the nonchalant attitude of the officer and the continued detention of the local man, residents from neighbouring villages gathered and stormed the Assam Rifles camp.
Reports indicated that, in an attempt to disperse the crowd, Assam Rifles personnel fired live ammunition, leading to a Violent backlash that resulted in the vandalism of the troops' makeshift camp.
Locals accused the paramilitary unit of harassing commuters from the area, citing frequent incidents of frisking and intimidation along the Imphal-Myanmar road, particularly in the Kasom Khullen Block.
Throughout Saturday night, local women folks kept vigil at strategic points in different neighbouring villages of the area to prevent any reinforcements of Assam Rifles from entering the village.