Ukhrul: The emergency shutdown called by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) turned violent in Ukhrul as the agitating mob set ablaze maruti gypsy belonging to Ukhrul police station on Thursday midnight.
Sources said the fire had partially damaged the police gypsy. The prompt intervention of Ukhrul fire fighters prevented it from further damaging the vehicle as they put out the fire.
The incident occured at Phungreitang in Ukhrul headquarters.
The vehicle was torched during a brief confrontation that broke out between the mob and the personnel of the 6th Manipur Rifles.
The bandh supporters and volunteers gathered near Ukhrul fire brigade at Phungreitang Ukhrul at around 11 pm and burnt tyres when they reportedly heard several rounds of shot from inside the 6th Manipur Rifles campus.
The shots could have been fired in an attempt to disperse the mob.
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This angered the mob who alleged that the security forces targeted them and had demanded the Manipur Rifles concerned officers to disclose those responsible for the firing. A brief confrontation then ensued between the two sides.
Ukhrul police, however, had nothing to do with the confrontation, sources added.
Police team arrived at the scene to control the situation. We came only to control the situation however much to our surprise the mob suddenly directed their angered towards the police and set our maruti gypsy on fire which was parked near the fire brigade gate,” police officer said.
The vehicle which was set on fire by the mob was the lone vehicle allotted to the Ukhrul police station, the police officer said.
In the meantime, a suo moto case 21(08-2022)/UKL/PS/ has been registered at Ukhrul police station.
The indefinite emergency shutdown called by the ATSUM in hill districts of Manipur has disrupted normal lives of the general public.
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