On Wednesday, a series of unsettling events unfolded in Moreh town, located on the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district. A number of abandoned houses were set on fire, resulting in the destruction of property and causing distress to the already mixed population residing in the area. Security personnel were called in to bring the situation under control, eventually quelling the unrest by the afternoon.
The town of Moreh has been grappling with tensions and displacement issues, especially for the Meitei community, during the recent months of violence. These underlying tensions came to a head on Wednesday morning when a mob gathered in the town around 9:30 am. Over the next two hours, the mob targeted three different locations, setting houses and shops ablaze.
The mob primarily comprised people from the Kuki-Zomi community. Their intended targets were the abandoned houses belonging to Meitei people, whom they believed to be displaced from the area. However, their plans were thwarted when confronted by a patrol of the Assam Rifles.
The situation quickly escalated, leading to a confrontation between the mob and the security personnel. In a joint effort, the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), and local police worked together to regain control of the situation. During the course of this confrontation, it was reported that both sides resorted to firing in the air to disperse the mob and restore calm.
As a result of the violence, approximately 15 to 16 houses were set ablaze, with significant damage also reported to the Forest Guest House in Moreh. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties in either of the incidents.
Prior to the unrest in Moreh, a separate incident occurred in Sapormeina, Kangpokpi district, where a mob set two buses used for transporting security forces personnel on fire. Nine individuals were subsequently arrested in connection with this incident. The situation in Moreh remains tense, and authorities are closely monitoring developments in the area.