According to people with knowledge of the situation, the district collector’s home and security force vehicles parked close to mini secretariat compounds were set on fire. In Churachandpur, a region of Manipur plagued by ethnic violence, a mob stormed the government compound housing the district collector and police superintendent’s offices late on Thursday, leaving at least two dead and a dozen injured. Security forces opened fire. According to people with knowledge of the situation, the security forces car parked close to the mini secretariat compound and the collector’s home were set on fire. The attack led the state government to impose a five-day ban on cellular data services in Churachandpur district, which is populated primarily by Kuki people.
Joint Secretary Mayengbam Veto Singh issued an order stating that anti-social elements could incite public passion on social media and impact law and order. The order stated that there is an immediate risk of fatalities, property damage, both public and private, and widespread disruptions to social harmony and public peace.
The state government has decided to briefly suspend or curtail mobile internet/data services and internet data services via VPN in Churachandpur for five days as a proactive and precautionary measure, the order stated, citing the unstable law and order situation.
Although the Manipur Police had not yet commented on the deaths, those with knowledge of the incident named the deceased as Letalalkhol Gangte and Thanggunlen Haokip, residents of Churachandpur. Over a dozen people were injured, and two men died from gunshot wounds, according to a Churachandpur district hospital official.
When word spread that a police chief constable from the Kuki tribe had been suspended, a crowd gathered in front of the police superintendent’s office. A video of the head constable with volunteers from the village and armed men went viral on social media, leading to his suspension. Police Superintendent Sivanand Surve, in his suspension order, which HT has seen, noted serious misconduct by a disciplined police officer.
Barricades have been erected by the Kuki and Meitei communities at points of entry and departure in districts where they predominate. Village defense volunteers, armed men, have been stationed to guard these posts. According to officials, the mob assembled and started throwing stones as soon as word spread that the head constable had been suspended. This way, after smashing through a gate and continuing into the compound, The Manipur Police estimated that the mob consisted of 300–400 people. According to a local in Churachandpur, there were heavy security force deployments in the town as a result of the fighting and arson that continued until around midnight.
