Angry Kuki tribesmen torch Assam Rifles post in Manipur after civilian's death

KOLKATA: Angry Kuki tribesmen torched an Assam Rifles outpost in Manipur and burnt down two vehicles on Saturday after a local man was allegedly killed by the troops on Friday night. The police said that tension prevailed in the Twilang area of Manipur's Kangpokpi district after the angry mob stormed the Gelnel outpost of the 44th Battalion of Assam Rifles.

One Gypsy and one Tata pick-up vehicle of the force were burnt down by the mob, which demanded the arrest of Major Alok Sathe, the Post Commander of E Company of the 44th Assam Rifles.

The mob alleged that Sathe along with a rifleman named Amar and two others in civil dress were responsible for shooting dead one Mangboilal Lhouvum at around 9 pm on Friday.

Kuki Inpi leaders said the villagers in Gelnel (Banglabung) are convinced that Lhouvum, a truck helper, was killed without any provocation by Sathe and his accomplices at Chalwa village.

They said the villagers were enraged when the local police said that they could not arrest the Major and his men because they are covered by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Thangminlen Kipgen, General Secretary, Kuki Inpi of Kangpokpi district, said that the Assam Rifles had contended that it can only take action after an appropriate inquiry. But the villagers want immediate action because they are convinced that Sathe was responsible for the 'pre-meditated' murder of the poor father of four children, Kipgen told IANS.

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