Residents of Kasom Khullen vandalized a makeshift Assam Rifles camp at Hongbei village on Saturday, accusing the paramilitary force of harassing locals. The incident escalated after Assam Rifles personnel reportedly detained a villager for two nights for transporting timber without a transit permit.
Protesters, furious over the detention despite the intervention of local MLA Leishiyo Keishing (Phungyar AC), stormed the camp and demanded the force’s complete withdrawal from the area. The MLA, who rushed to the site, argued that the Assam Rifles lacked the authority to check timber transportation and threatened legal action if no higher-order justified their actions.
The villagers alleged repeated harassment, including forced unloading of timber meant for house construction, and staged a sit-in protest, blocking the road. They vowed to continue their demonstration until the Assam Rifles vacated the area.
Assam Rifles personnel reportedly fired live rounds to disperse the mob, but tensions remained high as talks between the MLA and the camp commander failed to resolve the issue. The MLA assured villagers of escalating the matter to the Chief Minister and pursuing legal recourse if necessary.
