Imphal: In reported renewed ethnic violence, three different vehicles were burnt and an exchange of gunfire between two warring groups at a sandmine area of the interdistricts of Imphal East and Kangpokpi in Manipur on Sunday afternoon.
Police said that three vehicles – an excavator, a dipper, and a Gypsy parked for transportation of the sand and pebbles at the riverbed of Kaihao and Laikhoi villages under the Maphou Dam police station were set on fire.
The armed miscreants carried out the deadly actions with the firing of guns followed by bombardments to the mine workers at around 3:30 pm on Sunday.
This incident prompted the actions of the village volunteers of the Meiteis residing in the nearby villages, rushing and trading the gunfires between the two groups at this hotspot for about 3 hours.
Two drivers of the vehicles are still missing though the sandmine workers managed to escape from the spot.
With the rushing of state forces and police into the area, the gunfires died down.
Police said that efforts are to rescue the missing drivers.
This firing incident is the second time happening in this area.
On February 6, 2024, similar actions were reported.
The gunfires have also been reported at Thamnapokpi village in Bishnupur district bordering Churachandpur district on Sunday morning. However, there were no reports of any casualty, said the police.