Violent mob sets houses ablaze in Manipur's Moreh district amidst tensions
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Imphal: A group of miscreants set afire several houses in Manipur's Moreh district on Wednesday, in what appears to be a spillover of violence from an earlier incident.
The abandoned houses, located in the bustling Moreh Bazar area near the Myanmar border, were engulfed in flames, causing significant damage to the properties.
Just hours before the arson at Moreh, a separate shocking event unfolded in Kangpokpi district, where a violent mob targeted buses used by security forces to transport personnel. These buses, which were on their way from Dimapur on Tuesday evening, fell prey to the wrath of the agitated crowd.
In a disturbing act, the mob set two buses ablaze, leaving them completely destroyed. Miraculously, there were no reported casualties from either incident.
Ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state nearly three months ago, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds.
The violence erupted on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.
PTI Inputs