Tension ran high in Kangpokpi district with enraged mobs congregating along the National Highway-2 at various locations, mainly at Kangpokpi town, Keithelmanbi, Saparmeina, Motbung, and Gamgiphai towards the Imphal side at around 10:30 pm on Saturday.
The mobs blocked the highway with stones, concrete pipes and also burnt tyres to restrict the movement of vehicles, mainly the security vehicles that were to move towards the Imphal side.
The SP Kangpokpi team who attempted to move towards at Gamgiphai was restricted by the mobs at Kangpokpi town. However, the CO of 22 Assam Rifles blank fired and managed to move down but was stopped at Keithelmanbi where a huge mob restricted him to move further.
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The National Highway-2 leading to Imphal witnessed a road blockade at various locations with stones, logs, carcasses of vehicles burnt, etc.
However, the protesters left a small space for private vehicles to pass.
Meanwhile, a reliable source informed that more than 10 houses at Sekmai village were burned down while many were suspected to be wounded and even killed during the fierce gunfight between the two warring communities.
One person was reportedly injured on the part of the warring community from Kangpokpi while there was no reported death till the filing of this report.
Reports of firing was also reported from Saikul’s Leitanpokpi area, Kangchup in Kangpokpi district.
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