StatesManipur
One shot dead as clashes erupt in Manipur's Thoubal, two villages under curfew
Stones thrown at a concert in Khangabok on Sunday night set off fighting between two communities; Laishram Rakesh was shot in the head and houses and vehicles were burnt.
Key points
- Laishram Rakesh was shot in the head by unidentified men and died in hospital.
- The Thoubal district magistrate has ordered people in Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham to stay indoors.
- Police said the situation was under control on Monday morning.
One man was shot dead and several people were hurt when clashes broke out between two communities in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Sunday night, police said on Monday. The district administration has ordered residents of two villages to stay indoors.
The trouble began when a group allegedly threw stones at a ground in Khangabok, about 25 km south of Imphal, where a concert was under way. The village falls under the Thoubal police station. Stone-throwing between members of the two communities then spread through Khangabok and neighbouring Sangaiyumpham, and a few houses and vehicles were set on fire.
Police identified the dead man as Laishram Rakesh. He was shot in the head by unidentified men and died in a nearby hospital. Several others were treated for cuts from stones.
Orders to stay home
The Thoubal district magistrate imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita from 11 pm on Sunday, directing people in Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham not to leave their homes. The order cites a “likelihood of breach of peace” from “antisocial elements” and does not say when it will be lifted.
Additional state and central forces were rushed to the two villages overnight. Police said the situation was under control by Monday morning.
The two villages lie side by side, and the order effectively shuts down normal life in both until the administration decides it is safe. Police have not said whether anyone has been detained for the shooting.