VIDEO: 1 killed and over 2 dozen injured as violent mob storms SP office in Manipur's Churachandpur after Kuki cop sacked
A violent mob set fire to public properties, including a bus, outside the SP office in Churachandpur district of conflict-torn Manipur when they tried to storm the police building on Thursday evening.
Manipur violence: At least one person was killed and more than 20 others injured after a violent mob tried to storm the SP office in Churachandpur district of violence-torn Manipur on Thursday, hours after a head constable of the Kuki-Zo community was suspended over a viral attack. video in which he posed with “armed miscreants”.
“A mob of about 300 to 400 people today tried to storm the office of the SP CCP, pelting stones, etc. The SF (security forces), including the RAF, are responding appropriately by firing tear gas shells to to get the situation under control. Cases are being monitored,” Manipur police wrote on X.
According to reports, the mob torched a bus and other structures outside the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Chandrachur district while raising slogans demanding the reinstatement of head constable Simalpaul, who was suspended following images of him posed in a bunker of “armed miscreants” and “village defense volunteers” on top of a hill went viral.
At least one person is reportedly dead while as many as 25 others were injured when security personnel fired tear gas canisters to disperse the angry crowd that tried to break into the office of the district police chief.
One of the videos also shows the protesters vandalizing an office, but India.com could not verify the details or location of the scene in the clip. The rioters were also said to have torn down the Tricolor, but these claims could not be verified.
Is vandalism of a government office normal in Churachandpur? Is there rule of law in Churachandpur? This is the unraveling of a nine-month separatist agenda developed by the Kuki Zo militants. Photo abhi baki hai mere dost! Humare Tiranga ko bhi niche kar diye, ab kya kya… pic.twitter.com/veMeabbzdn
— Dhiraj Luwang vlogs (@dhiraj_luwang) February 15, 2024
Footage shared on social media showed the mob engaging in arson and vandalism as they set fire to a bus and some public properties outside the SP office.
Central forces are chased out of Churachandpur, public properties are set on fire by Kuki Zo Separatist. They even disrespected our Indian tricolor by hoisting it in the chaotic situation in Churachandpur. #KukiTerrorists_pulled_down_Tricolor… pic.twitter.com/Js84I7tpr2
— Dhiraj Luwang vlogs (@dhiraj_luwang) February 15, 2024
Kuki officer suspended after viral selfie with 'armed men'
Earlier, officials said head constable Siamlalpaul was “suspended with immediate effect until further notice” by Churachandpur SP Shivanand Surve after a video of him with “armed men” and “sitting with village volunteers” went viral on social media.
“A departmental inquiry is being considered against Siamlalpaul of Churachandpur district police as a video of him making a video with armed men on February 14 has gone viral on social media,” the Churachandpur SP's suspension order said.
“This amounts to very serious misconduct as a member of the disciplined police force,” it added.
Siamlalpaul has been asked not to “leave the station without prior permission” and “his wages and allowances are limited to the subsistence allowance permissible under the rules,” the report said.
(With PTI inputs)