At least four people were injured during an encounter with Assam Rifles personnel at New Haven village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Sunday over a protest against the establishment of an Assam Rifles outpost, police said.
The incident occurred around 4 pm at New Haven village under the jurisdiction of Sansad police station in Ukhrul, Ukrul District Police Control Room told HT.
The villagers alleged that 40 Assam Rifles personnel stationed in Lamboi village attempted to establish an outpost in New Haven without prior consultation with the village authority. To demand a halt to the construction of the outpost, local residents, including women and student bodies, demonstrated in protest in the village.
The officers further said that the situation became tense when security forces tried to disperse the protesters and allegedly fired several live bullets and resorted to lathi charges.
According to villagers, Assam Rifles personnel carried out the action against the protesters in the absence of an executive magistrate.
The protesters demanded the removal of the Assam Rifles post from the village, saying they have lost confidence in the force and are concerned for the safety of their lives and property.
“The situation is under control and the Assam Rifles has forcefully occupied the site; however, the law and order situation in the area is tense,” Ukhrul District Police told HT.
Tension remains in Ukhrul district following a double ambush incident carried out by unidentified gunmen in Kangpokpi and Noni districts that left four civilians dead, including three church leaders and a Naga man.
Following the double ambush, 48 civilians from the Kuki and Naga communities were taken hostage. On May 15, 14 people from each sect were released. However, according to civilian bodies of both communities, 14 Kuki civilians and six Naga civilians are still being held hostage.
Recently, on May 29, unidentified militants carried out an ambush along the Imphal-Nagaland National Highway (NH 202). This ambush occurred while a goods convoy was moving accompanied by security forces, killing a truck driver (a resident of West Bengal) and wounding a Manipur police personnel.
