1. Amid escalating tension, security forces fired on ‘village volunteers’ at Manipur Police Training College.
2. The incident unfolded as local youths, mostly village volunteers, gathered at MPTC gates.
3. Some individuals attempted to forcibly enter the premises, leading to the fatal confrontation.
Imphal, Feb 14: Amidst escalating tension, one individual lost their life as security forces resorted to firing to quell a group of ‘village volunteers’ attempting to forcibly enter the Manipur Police Training College (MPTC) located in Pangei, Imphal East district.
The incident, which occurred, saw a gathering of local youths, primarily village volunteers, at the gates of MPTC, with some attempting to breach the premises.
The motive behind their actions remains unclear, although there are suspicions that they sought to loot firearms from the facility, as indicated in their social media posts expressing the need for more weapons to combat perceived threats.
Despite initial attempts by security personnel to disperse the crowd using tear gas shells, the situation escalated, leading to the firing of live rounds to restore order.
Tragically, 24-year-old Okram Sanaton succumbed to gunshot wounds while being transported to a nearby hospital.
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Forensic experts have initiated an investigation into the incident, seeking to unravel the circumstances surrounding the fatal confrontation.
The unrest comes amid simmering tensions exacerbated by an intense gun battle between rival armed groups in areas neighboring Khurai and Khundrakpam assembly constituencies.
This latest episode underscores the volatile nature of the region, which has been plagued by ethnic violence between the Meitei community residing in the valley and the Kuki community inhabiting the surrounding hills.
Since May of the previous year, the region has witnessed over 180 casualties and the displacement of thousands, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable peace-building efforts.
