New Delhi: Tension flared in Manipur’s Senapati town after a violent mob attacked an Assam Rifles Company Operating Base following a security search operation in the nearby Makuilongdi and Oklong areas. The unrest led to stone pelting, arson and damage to military vehicles before security forces brought the situation under control using minimum force.
The search operation was launched after intelligence inputs indicated that armed cadres were moving outside designated camps carrying weapons and wearing uniforms, reportedly violating established ceasefire ground rules. The Assam Rifles informed the Ceasefire Monitoring Group before beginning the operation.
As troops advanced towards Makuilongdi and Oklong villages, local residents, including women, blocked their movement. Security personnel exercised restraint and assured community representatives that the operation was intended only to maintain peace and security. They also stated that troops would not enter any village without the approval of the authorities.
Later in the evening, messages circulating on social media claimed that a confrontation had developed between the Assam Rifles and the Huthrong Brigade Headquarters of the NSCN (IM). The posts urged residents to gather in Senapati town, drawing a large crowd.
Around 9 pm, protesters marched towards the Assam Rifles base and reached the camp about 30 minutes later. The crowd allegedly began pelting stones and damaging property despite the earlier withdrawal of security columns. In response, security personnel fired blank rounds and used tear gas grenades, in coordination with the Manipur Police, to disperse the mob and prevent further escalation.
During the violence, one Assam Rifles vehicle was set on fire while two trucks were overturned and damaged. An Alto car parked outside the camp and a nearby waiting shed were also torched. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and authorities later confirmed that the situation had been brought under control.
In separate operations across Imphal West, Imphal East and Churachandpur districts, security forces recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives. The seizures included assault rifles, pistols, grenades, improvised explosive devices, communication equipment and protective gear. One person was arrested during the operations after weapons and ammunition were recovered from his possession.
