Guwahati/New Delhi
In line with Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s announcement, schools up to Class 8 reopened on Wednesday but witnessed extremely low attendance levels even as students and teachers expressed happiness over the development but remained wary of any untoward incident.
However, restoration of complete peace remains a far cry due to sporadic incidents of violence with the latest being a mob unsuccessfully trying to loot the armoury of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Thoubal district on Tuesday.
The mob of around 700-800 tried to storm the camp of 3rd IRB in the Khangabok area to loot arms and ammunition, leading to a clash with the security forces. An Assam Riles jawan was also shot at. The forces tried to bring the situation under control and used teargas shells and rubber bullets at first. But as the armed mob opened fire, the forces shot back.
In the clashes, a man, identified as Ronaldo (27), was shot. He was first taken to the Thoubal district hospital, but later referred to a hospital in Imphal as his condition was critical. He died on the way to the state capital, officials said adding 10 others were injured. The mob blocked the roads leading to the camp at multiple locations to prevent reinforcements from reaching there, but the forces moved through.
The mob attacked a team of the Assam Rifles that was on the way to the camp. They fired on the Assam Rifles personnel, in which a jawan was injured, and torched their vehicle. The jawan was shot in the leg. The irate mob also torched the house of an IRB personnel.
Later, two incidents of intermittent firings were reported from two places but no casualties have been reported so far. The first incident of intermittent firing was reported between two communities in the Khoijumtambi area from 7 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday. The other incident was reported around 4.30 am on Wednesday along the ridge line, East of Phaileng. There was no report of any casualty in this as well.
Meanwhile, a joint delegation of CPI(M) and CPI members of Parliament will visit violence-hit Manipur from July 6-8 to express solidarity with the people and take stock of the situation in the northeastern state.
