The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: A day after a mob destroyed a makeshift post of the Assam Rifles in Manipur’s Kamjong district, the paramilitary force vacated the post on Sunday (January 12).
The locals had destroyed the post protesting against alleged “frequent harassment” by Assam Rifles personnel during the transportation of timber for the construction of houses, reported The Hindu.
Officials said that the decision to vacate the post at Hongbei village was taken during a meeting that was attended by a Brigadier of the Assam Rifles, the Kamjong Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police along with civil society organisations of the Tangkhul Naga community.
Following the meeting, around 20 personnel vacated the post.
After the Assam Rifles personnel had intercepted a timber-laden vehicle on Saturday, villagers had protested before a mob destroyed the post after alleging the paramilitary force of overstepping its authority and interfering in the matters of the state forest department.
When the post commander had said that timber should not be used commercially, local MLA Leishiyo Keishing had replied to him that “it was not your duty.”
In a viral video, Keishing was seen confronting an Assam Rifles officer on the matter. Despite his intervention, the paramilitary forces allegedly refused to cooperate, escalating tensions further.
The Assam Rifles has denied the allegations.
“On January 11, Assam Rifles personnel manning the post at Hongbei inspected a vehicle and discerned that the vehicle loaded with timber did not have mandated documents. Assam Rifles personnel stopped the vehicle following procedures,” the Assam Rifles said, refuting the charges.
On Saturday (January 11), following the refusal of Assam Rifles personnel to cooperate with the protesters, residents gathered at the temporary camp, demanding an end to the frisking operations and the withdrawal of Assam Rifles personnel from the area.
The confrontation turned violent when Assam Rifles personnel reportedly used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
In retaliation, protesters destroyed the temporary camp, insisting that the Assam Rifles vacate the area entirely. The unrest spread to neighbouring villages, where residents blocked roads to prevent reinforcements from reaching the scene.