Security beefed up in Manipur’s Kangpokpi day after attack on SP office

Security was beefed up in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Jan 4, a day after a mob attack at the office of the Superintendent of Police that resulted in the SP and other cops sustaining injuries.

“The situation is now under control and is being closely monitored,” a senior officer in Imphal was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

According to officials, SP Manoj Prabhakar was injured in the attack for failing to “remove” the central armed forces, particularly the border BSF and the CRPF, in Saibol village as per the demands of Kuki groups.

The SP is “fine now and presently leading the joint security forces in tackling the situation”, the police said in a statement on Jan 3.

How violence erupted

In videos emerging from Kangpokpi, armed individuals dressed in camouflage clothing were purportedly seen walking on the streets, carrying what appear to be sophisticated weapons. Images and videos also showed damaged vehicles on the premises of the SP office.

While Prabhakar was injured after being hit on the forehead by some projectile, a few protesters, who sustained injuries during the clashes, were also admitted to hospital, officials said.

In a statement, the police said that besides stones and other “projectiles”, the protesters attacked the SP office with petrol bombs.

“Security forces retaliated against the mob and resorted to the use of adequate force to disperse the mob and the situation was brought under control,” it said.

Meanwhile, locals claimed that several people were injured in the action by the security forces in Saibol village in Twiching. This area is located in the so-called ‘buffer zone’ between the Kuki-held Hills and Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley.

For many days before security forces moved into Saibol village, several civilians and security personnel had been injured in gunfire in Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi villages in the Imphal East district. The gunfights between armed groups have led to injuries to four people, including a police personnel.

In the wake of the situation, security personnel launched joint operations and destroyed multiple bunkers. On Dec 30, security forces started occupying the Saibol area, sources were quoted as saying.

Kuki organizations began protesting against central forces in the area after women of the community were allegedly baton-charged on December 31 for blocking their way.

Local women had gathered to protest what they described as the “forceful occupation” of community bunkers by security personnel.

Protesting the December 31 action by security forces, the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) blocked the critical transportation route of National Highway 2, disrupting the movement of goods to the Imphal Valley where the Meiteis live.

Notably, over 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023.