Ukhrul: In a major operation, the Ukhrul police, along with other security forces, successfully recovered 16 firearms looted by a mob during a violent conflict in Ukhrul district on October 2. A senior police official confirmed that efforts are ongoing to retrieve the remaining weapons.
Inspector General of Police (Operations), I. K. Muivah, informed the media that during the clash between two villages, an agitated mob stormed the Ukhrul police station, forcibly taking 20 firearms. However, with the cooperation of security forces, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and local leaders, 80 percent of the looted weapons have now been recovered.
“This is something unprecedented, noteworthy and praiseworthy for all those who have played a very positive role to restore normalcy and to ensure law and order in this hill district,” he said.
The IGP further confirmed that the conflict between the two warring villages has ceased since the evening of October 2, and no further incidents have been reported. In the aftermath of the violence, high-level security forces, including the Manipur Rifles, Assam Rifles, and Border Security Force (BSF), were deployed to maintain peace in the affected areas.
Muivah expressed gratitude to the Ukhrul police, security forces, and the leaders from both villages for their efforts in restoring order. He specifically lauded the headman of Hunphun village and various CSO leaders for their exemplary cooperation in locating and recovering the looted arms.
Urging for continued peace, Muivah stated, “Let us cooperate together. Let us take peace as a very precious commodity. Because without peace we cannot do anything and normally everything is paralysed. So, let us give importance to peace and peaceful dialogue and consultation with each other instead of violent means.”
A mob stormed a police station at Tangrei and looted government arms during a clash between two neighbouring villages over a cleanliness drive in a disputed land in the town as part of ‘Swachhata Abhiyan’.
The conflict between Hunphun and Hungpung villages which involved firearms at Thingrasa, the epicentre of the clash, resulted in the death of four persons, including a Manipur Rifles personnel and over 40 others sustained injuries. Many of the injured persons were evacuated to the Imphal Hospital for advanced treatment.
It may be noted that after the conflict broke out in Ukhrul district, senior police officers led by IGP I K Muivah along with DIG Worngam Ningshen and SP Ningshem Vashum were deputed to Ukhrul to assist the district administration in restoring law and order along with BSF and Assam Rifles.
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