IMPHAL, Oct 21: Several houses were set ablaze on Wednesday in the abandoned village in the escalating violence in Manipur’s Kamjong district hit by the renewed Naga-Kuki conflict.
The police said that unknown miscreants set fire to several houses at Khoikai village under Chassad police station of Kamjong district early this morning.
Khoikai is a Kuki inhabited village situated in Chassad area hit by spate of violence involving fatality and house arsons in the last few days. Fearing attacks, the residents had already fled the village to take refuge at a safer place nearby.
Local reports said that the miscreants burnt down the house around 5.30 am on Wednesday.
The extent of the damage and the identity of those responsible for the latest arson could not be immediately established till the time of filing this report.
Following the latest arson incident, preventive measures have been intensified on the part of the security forces with intensified patrolling and area domination to prevent recurrence of such incidents and maintain peace and security in the area, the police said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) Manipur Mukesh Singh accompanied by Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) and DIG BSF SHQ Manipur on Wednesday visited the violence-hit Kamjong district. It was followed by a joint security coordination meeting with representatives of 11 Assam Rifles and the BSF to review the security scenario and strengthen coordination among the security forces.
The DGP and senior officers subsequently met representatives of the Kuki and Naga civil society organisations (CSOs), heard their concerns regarding the prevailing situation, and assured them of all possible support and assistance from the police to facilitate the restoration of peace and normalcy in the district, the police added.
Houses in abandoned village torched in Manipur
Correspondent