2 houses, shop go up in flames in New Checkon

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 15 : Unidentified miscreants set two houses and one shop at different locations in the New Checkon area of Imphal East on fire today at around 1.30 pm.
Following the arson, a heated argument broke out between local women and the security forces as the former didn't  give passage to the security personnel.
The women blocked the road as they held that no one would have been able to go inside and light the fire and raised strong suspicion that it was an inside job, to play the victim card.
The women added that they have been on strict vigil in the neighbourhood and no one would have been able to sneak in and light the fire.
As the situation escalated, personnel of Rapid Action Force (RAF) fired rounds of tear gas shells to disperse a large number of people which were approaching from different directions.
The mob also pelted stones at the security forces.
At least three persons including a woman and RAF personnel got injured in the commotion.
It is reported that one woman sustained injuries on her head as she was hit by a tear gas shell while a personnel of RAF was hit by a stone during the scuffle.
Another youth fainted near Andro Parking  and he has been taken to JNIMS.
Reportedly, the RAF detained two youths from near the Andro Parking areas and they have been handed over to State  police.
According to the locals, the houses were set ablaze by unknown miscreants to depict a particular community as the sole victim of the unrest in Manipur.