Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has accused Central security forces of failing to prevent the torching of six Meitei houses at Kanto Sabal village on July 11, alleging that personnel obstructed residents instead of stopping the attackers.
The incident occurred in Leimakhong, located along the Imphal West-Kangpokpi inter-district boundary, where a rally demanding the free movement of essential commodities reportedly turned violent.
According to COCOMI, a mob set fire to six abandoned Meitei houses at around 1:20 pm. The organisation claimed that when local residents noticed smoke and rushed towards the area, security personnel deployed near the site prevented them from reaching the burning homes.
COCOMI alleged that personnel from the Punjab Regiment and other Central forces parked Casspir vehicles to block access and told villagers that the smoke was caused by burning tyres. The committee further claimed that security forces used tear gas and fired live rounds to disperse residents attempting to extinguish the fire, leaving five civilians injured.
Describing the response as biased and a serious failure of duty, COCOMI said the actions of the security forces had further undermined public confidence. The organisation demanded accountability for the incident and called for appropriate action against those responsible.
Fire and emergency services, along with officials from the Imphal West district police, the CRPF and the Rapid Action Force (RAF), later reached the village to bring the situation under control.