A police station in Ukhrul, Manipur, was looted on Wednesday, just hours after a gunfight resulted in the deaths of two civilians and a personnel from the Manipur Rifles. This incident prompted authorities to issue an alert.
According to reports, a memorandum circulating on social media urged all police superintendents, stations, and outposts to maintain high alert status and ensure the security of arms and ammunition in light of the “current situation in the state.” The memo was allegedly issued by Additional Director General of Police L Kailun, who could not be reached for immediate confirmation.
Officials stated that tensions flared between residents of two villages in Ukhrul due to a longstanding land dispute, leading to the gunfight. The altercation reportedly began when residents of Hunphun village interrupted students from Hungpung who were cleaning an area in celebration of Gandhi Jayanti.
Following the gunfight, a mob stormed the police station, making off with a significant cache of weapons: eight 9mm pistols, six INSAS rifles, three AK-47 rifles, two 9mm carbines, one SLR, a Sten gun, 340 INSAS rounds, 250 carbine rounds, 201 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 180 rounds of AK-47, and 10 rounds of SLR.
This incident is part of a troubling trend, with several recent occurrences of mobs raiding police stations and armories to seize weapons and ammunition amid ongoing ethnic violence between the dominant Metei and Kuki communities, which began on May 3 of last year.
