Imphal: A group of militants reportedly torched another police outpost at the interdistrict of Jiribam and Tamenglong in Manipur on Saturday night.
Officials on Sunday said that a police outpost located at Leishabithon about 15 km from the Jiribam district headquarters adjoining the Pankhotphai village in Tamenglong district was set on fire by the armed militants at around 10 PM on Saturday.
This is follow-up actions of the militants who have reportedly set on fire the Chotobekra police check post, Jiri Mukh police check post and Jiri Mukh Forest beat on the adjoining night of Friday and Saturday in the same district.
In the continuous communal frenzy, apart from burning down the government properties in the Jiribam district, the militants also have burnt down a total of 72 houses in four villages across the Jiribam district, the report said.
In the ensuing disturbances, which broke out following the murder of one Soibam Sarat Singh (65) at Jiribam, several houses belonging to both Meitei and Kuki communities were burnt by unknown miscreants in Jiribam District.
Further, two police pickets and the Borobekra Forest Beat Office were also burnt down by suspected armed miscreants, the police reports said.
Additional Security Forces (Central and State Forces) have been deployed to control the affected areas and prevent further escalation. The situation is tense but under control at present.
The Police are also actively monitoring social media updates which may incite communal feelings amongst the communities and request the general public to refrain from spreading unfounded/unverified information.
Meanwhile, in a significant administrative move, because of the present law and order situation in Jiribam, both the Superintendent of Police (SP) Jiribam and the Officer-in-Charge of Jiribam police station have been tranferred.
SP Jiribam, A Ghanashyam Sharma has been transferred as additional director of Manipur Police Training Centre, Imphal East District in a new transfer and posting order issued by the joint secretary (DP) Saturday.
In contrast, the same order posted director MPTC M Pradip as senior SP Jiribam and Kabib K as IGP (intelligence) and director MPTC.