GUWAHATI: Amid the horrors of the unabated ethnic violence that continues to rock Manipur, an injured 8-year-old boy and two of his family members were tragically killed when the ambulance they were travelling in was set ablaze by unknown miscreants.
The horrific incident reportedly occurred in the hamlet of Iroisemba, under the jurisdiction of the Lamphel police station in Imphal West district on Wednesday.
The victims of the unfortunate arson incident have been identified as a boy aged 8 years named Tonsing Hangsing, his mother Meena Hangsing, and one of their relative identified as Lydia Lourembam. The ambulance carrying the boy injured by a bullet to the head during a crossfire and was on its way to the hospital when the incident happened.
The hapless family, comprising of a Meitei mother married to a Kuki man and their 8 year-old son had been living in a relief camp operated by the Assam Rifles in Kangchup, according to police and army sources. Although living inside the Assam Rifles camp, the child was struck by a bullet during a shootout that occurred in the area on Sunday evening.
On receipt of the information of the boy being injured, a senior Assam Rifles officer contacted the police in Imphal and arranged for an ambulance to transport him to a hospital. The mother being from the majority community, it was decided to transport the child by road to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.
Initially, the ambulance was escorted by the Assam Rifles for a few kilometers, then the local police took over. However, the vehicle was tragically ambushed by miscreants and set on fire in the Isoisemba area at around 6:30 pm. The three individuals travelling inside the ambulance were killed in the arson attack.
Located on the border between Kangpokpi district and Imphal West district, the Kangchup area is home to a few Kuki villages and is situated close to the Meitei village of Phayeng. This region has witnessed intensified violence during the second phase of violent clashes that erupted across Manipur since May 27.
Also Watch: