The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Tensions flared in Manipur’s Kamjong district on Saturday, January 11, when angry residents attacked and set ablaze a temporary Assam Rifles camp in Hongbei village. The incident was sparked by growing discontent over alleged harassment during security checks conducted by the Assam Rifles along the Imphal-Myanmar road via the Kasom Khullen Block.
Residents accused paramilitary personnel of disrupting public life through “continuous frisking” operations and alleged harassment, according to a report in the Times of India. The situation deteriorated further when Assam Rifles personnel reportedly stopped the transport of timber intended for house construction in a nearby village, a decision that angered locals.
Local MLA’s intervention rejected
Local MLA Leishiyo Keishing, who was in the area attending a wedding, attempted to mediate the situation. He requested the Assam Rifles to allow the transport of timber, emphasising that timber regulation falls under the jurisdiction of Manipur’s forest department, not the Assam Rifles.
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.
Protest turns violent
Following the refusal, 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.
Kamjong superintendent of police Ningsem Vashum confirmed the heightened tensions, describing the situation as “tense but under control.” “We are trying to address the situation by engaging both parties concerned for discussions,” Vashum told the Times of India.
This incident follows ongoing local opposition to the establishment of Assam Rifles outposts in the region, which residents claim contradicts community interests.