Another house was set on fire a day before schools reopened in Manipur as sporadic incidents of violence continue to spread in the northeastern state. A mob in Manipur's Thoubal district torched the house of an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel after he foiled the attempts of rioters to loot firearms from the police armoury.
The incident took place at Samaram on Tuesday night after a 27-year-old man, identified as Ronaldo, was killed in a clash as a 700 to 800-strong mob tried to storm the camp of the 3rd IRB at Wangbal to loot firearms from the police armoury.
Teargas shells and rubber bullets were used as forces tried to bring the situation under control but it did not quell the agitators. As the armed mob opened fire, the forces also shot back, officials said.
The mob tried to block the roads leading to the IRB camp at multiple locations to prevent reinforcements from reaching there, but the forces moved through. A team of the Assam Rifles that was on the way to the camp was attacked, a personnel was shot in the leg and their vehicle was torched.
The IRB soldier whose house was set on fire was performing his duty and did not allow the rioters to loot the police weapons store, officials told PTI. He was part of the IRB unit guarding the armoury.
Ronaldo was rushed to the Thoubal district hospital by the mob but was later referred to a hospital in Imphal as his condition was critical. He died on the way. Ten others were also injured in the clashes and six of them with serious injuries were admitted to a hospital in Imphal, officials said.
Schools Reopen In Manipur
Amid the ongoing rioting and unrest, schools reopened across Manipur on Wednesday after Chief Minister N Biren Singh's order to reopen schools up to Class 8. Schools were shut for more than two months because of the ethnic clashes.
Although there is a fear of the situation worsening at any moment, children and their parents are happy that schools have reopened in the state.
Bhabesh Sharma, father of a class 4 student, hoped that the situation remains normal for classes to continue.“I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Education is the key and I sincerely hope that peace returns to the state,” he told PTI, adding that students’ security remains his concern.
Laishram Ibochouba, parent of a class 5 boy, appreciated the government’s decision but urged the government to make arrangements for the safety of the students. "I hope the government takes safety measures for students in case of any untoward incident.
"I am not scared to send my kids to school because the institute lies in the heart of Imphal. But it will be great if the government makes arrangements for the safety of students," he said.
