Imphal, Manipur – In a horrifying incident that has sent shockwaves across the nation, an eight-year-old boy and his mother lost their lives when a mob attacked and set fire to the ambulance transporting them to a hospital. The incident occurred in the remote Iroisemba area of Imphal West district on Sunday night. The boy, identified as Tonsing Hangsing, was critically injured by a bullet during ethnic clashes between tribal groups and the majority Meitei community in Manipur.
The victim’s father was not present with them at the time of the attack. Accompanied by a male relative, the mother and son were desperately pleading for mercy, explaining that the young boy had sustained bullet injuries. However, the heartless mob refused to show any compassion and proceeded to set the ambulance ablaze, leaving the victims trapped inside.
The police, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed the horrifying details of the incident. “The woman and the man in the ambulance pleaded for mercy, saying the little boy had bullet injuries, but the mob refused to spare them and set it on fire,” a police official stated.
The grieving father, in an interview with local television Northeast Live, expressed his disbelief and anguish. “I have not yet received the dead bodies, but I have heard that the three were charred beyond recognition, with just a few bones left in the ambulance,” he shared, reflecting the immense tragedy that befell his family.
According to sources, the boy and his mother had taken refuge in an Assam Rifles relief camp in Kangchup. On the evening of June 4, a gunfight erupted in the area, resulting in the young boy being struck by a bullet. Acting swiftly, a senior Assam Rifles officer contacted the Imphal police and arranged for an ambulance to transport the child to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.
Initially escorted by Assam Rifles personnel, the ambulance was later handed over to the local police for further transport. However, tragedy struck when a crowd intercepted the vehicle near Isoisemba and mercilessly set it on fire, claiming the lives of all three individuals inside. As of now, the location of their bodies remains unknown.
The incident is a grim reminder of the ongoing ethnic violence plaguing Manipur. The clashes erupted following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organized on May 3 to protest the demand by the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The Kangchup area, where the violence unfolded, is situated near the border between the Kangpokpi district and Imphal West, and has witnessed intense conflicts since late May.
Tensions had been escalating due to disputes over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, leading to a series of smaller agitations. Manipur, with a population comprising approximately 53 percent Meiteis living in the Imphal Valley and 40 percent Nagas and Kukis residing in the hill districts, has long struggled with inter-ethnic conflicts.
The tragic death of the young boy and his mother serves as a devastating reminder of the human cost of such violence. It highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive and inclusive dialogue among all communities in Manipur to address the underlying issues and find a path towards peace and harmony. The authorities must act swiftly to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice and take concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of all individuals affected by the ongoing clashes in the region.
