Mob storms SP office in Churachabdpur after head constable from Kuki-Zo community was suspended – India TV

A gaggle of people stormed the Churachandpur SP office in Manipur on Thursday evening. This incident occurred shortly after a head constable from the Kuki-Zo community was suspended after a selfie of him with “armed miscreants” went viral.  The scenario prompted unrest, resulting in the tried breach of the SP office premises by protesters. 

Taking to X, Manipur Police stated, “Mob numbering approximately 300-400 attempted to storm the office of SP CCP today, pelting stone, etc. The security forces including RAF is responding appropriately by firing tear gas shells to control the situation. Things are under watch.” 

Head constable Siamlalpaul was saved “under suspension with immediate effect until further orders” by Churachandpur SP Shivanand Surve after a video of him with “armed men” and “sitting together with village volunteers” went viral on social media.

“This tantamount to very grave misconduct being a member of the disciplined police force,” a police order stated. “A departmental inquiry is being contemplated against Siamlalpaul of Churachandpur district police, as a clip has gone viral on social media showing him making a video with armed men on February 14,” the order stated.

Siamlalpaul has been requested to not “leave the station without prior permission” and “his pay and allowances have been restricted to subsistence allowance admissible as per the rules”, it added. 

Six arrested for looting arms from IRB camp

Earlier on Thursday, Manipur Police arrested six individuals for looting arms from the India Reserve Battalion camp at Chingarel in Imphal East district. Four Insas rifles, one AK Ghatak, two magazines of SLR and 16 small bins of 9mm ammunition looted from the IRB camp have additionally been recovered, police stated. 

An unruly mob broke into the camp of the fifth IRB at Chingarel and fled with arms and ammunition. Following the incident, a lot of “village volunteers” additionally tried to barge in at Manipur Police Training College at Pangei in Imphal East district, police added. 

Manipur violence

Around 200 individuals have been killed and a number of other hundred injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest towards the bulk Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe standing. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s inhabitants and stay largely in the Imphal valley, whereas tribals, together with Nagas and Kukis, represent 40 per cent and reside largely in the hill districts.

(With inputs from PTI)

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