GUWAHATI: Atleast 200 alleged members of the Meitei radical group Arambai Tenggol opened fire at the house of an Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) at Wangkhei in Imphal East in Manipur and abducted him on Tuesday evening.
The incident said to be taken place at around 7 pm. They ransacked the house and damaged at least four vehicles with gunfire.
Within hours, however, the officer was rescued after a swift action by police and security forces. The state government had to take help of the Army as well as the situation worded after the rescue efforts.
The officer, Additional Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar, posted in the operations wing of the Manipur Police, has been admitted to a hospital and his condition is stated to be stable.
“There was a firing incident at the residence of ASP Moirangthem Amit. The armed miscreants numbering about 200, who came in vehicles, stormed the residence of the police officer and vandalised the household properties,” the police said.
“On getting information, additional security forces rushed to the spot. In the resulting police action, two individuals, namely Rabinash Moirangthem (24) and Kangujam Bhimsen (20), sustained injuries and were admitted to JNIMS Hospital,” the police added.
A case has been registered and investigation has started, the police further added.
According to reports, the reason for the armed men carring out the attack was that the ASP had arrested six members of the group for their alleged involvement in vehicle theft.
Following the arrests, a group of Meira Paibis (Meitei women group) had protested and blocked roads demanding their release.
Detailing the chaotic events, M Kulla, the police officer's father, explained, "We tried to talk to the armed men after they entered, but all of a sudden they started firing at the vehicles and properties. So we had to rush inside and lock ourselves."
The father, according to the officials, called his son and informed about the incident. The officer rushed with his team only to be abducted as they were outnumbered by the cadres allegedly belonging to the Arambai Tenggol.
Officials said that four columns of the Assam Rifles were requisitioned and deployed around the area where the incident took place.
The Arambai Tenggol shot to limelight after the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis broke out on May 3 last year. Members of the group have been at the forefront all along.
The Kuki-Zo group Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum had blamed Arambai Tenggol for many incidents of violence. The Meitei group is said to have 50,000 members.
