According to security sources, the mob gathered in the town around 9.30am and over the next two hours, houses and shops were torched at three different locations. Even a guest house belonging to the forest department was partially damaged.
The security forces attempted to disperse the mob, which eventually resulted in an exchange of fire with “unknown armed groups”. The mob finally dispersed around 12.20pm, a source said.
The sleepy town of Moreh — with its traditional wooden stilt houses, frontier hotels and stores — is located 120km southeast of Imphal. The rutted NH-102 winds through hills to connect Imphal with the town that was once envisaged to be a major international trading centre.
Addressing a gathering at the Kargil Vijay Diwas function in Imphal, CM N Biren Singh blamed the current situation on elements seeking to disturb peaceful co-existence of communities in the state.
He said the trouble began when his government cracked down on drug cartels and warned that it would not yield to any threats aimed at disintegrating the state. Singh appealed to the people to refrain from violence and help the government restore peace for all communities.
On Tuesday, miscreants fired gunshots in the Heikol and Phougakchao Ikhai areas, wounding three civilians. Security forces retaliated, repelling the shooters.
In connection with the burning of two buses at Sapermeina in Kangpokpi district on Tuesday, nine people, including a juvenile, have been arrested, police said. Additionally, police are conducting searches to catch those involved in the parading of two women naked on May 4. So far, seven have been arrested.
Singh tweeted construction of temporary houses in Thoubal is nearing completion, and soon families from relief camps will be able to move in.
Watch: Huge protest in Mizoram over Manipur rape and violence, CM Zoramthanga also joins protest
Summary:
★Moreh, a border town in India-Myanmar, resembled a war zone as armed groups and security forces engaged in an intense gunfight.
★A mob burned down around 30 abandoned houses and shops in the aftermath of ethnic strife in Manipur.
★Security forces attempted to disperse the mob, resulting in an exchange of fire with unknown armed groups.
★The Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, blamed the situation on elements seeking to disrupt peaceful co-existence between communities.
★Singh emphasized that his government would not yield to threats aimed at disintegrating the state and urged people to refrain from violence.
★In related incidents, gunshots were fired in certain areas, and arrests have been made in connection with the burning of buses and the parading of women naked.
★Temporary houses are being constructed in Thoubal for families from relief camps.
★A huge protest took place in Mizoram over the rape and violence in Manipur, and the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, joined the protest.
Follow DelhiBreakings on Google News
Superfast News Coverage by DelhiBreakings.com team.
For Superfast national news and Delhi Breaking Stories visit us daily at https://delhibreakings.com
