Assam Rifles personnel vacated their makeshift camp in Hongbei village, Kamjong district, on Sunday, a day after it was vandalized by an irate mob. The attack followed allegations of harassment and restrictions on timber transportation by the paramilitary force.
The mob, primarily villagers from Kasom Khullen block in the Naga-majority district, stormed the camp on Saturday, dismantling it in protest. Tensions were defused after a meeting on Sunday involving Tangkhul Naga civil society representatives, Assam Rifles officials, and the district administration, including the Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner.
The Assam Rifles dismissed the accusations, clarifying that personnel had stopped a vehicle carrying timber without proper documentation on January 11. According to the force, “nefarious elements” instigated the mob to demand the vehicle’s release, leading to violence. Tear gas shells and aerial firing were used to disperse the crowd, with no reported casualties.
The incident comes amidst ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, where over 250 people have been killed and thousands displaced since May 2023 in clashes between Kuki and Meitei communities. Assam Rifles, a key force deployed to maintain peace in the state, has faced criticism from various quarters during the conflict.
