Imphal - Late on Monday, Manipur Police announced that they have apprehended six individuals suspected of participating in an act of arson at Langol in Imphal West the previous day.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), law enforcement indicated that the identities of the six detainees were not disclosed. Their alleged actions involved igniting fires that engulfed four abandoned residences, a hut, and a community hall.

Since May 3, when ethnic tensions between the Kuki and dominant Meitei communities escalated, thousands of residences have been set ablaze across the state. In a recent incident on Friday, the house of a former parliamentarian in Imphal was also targeted by fire.

The ongoing violence has resulted in the displacement of more than 50,000 individuals and the tragic loss of over 150 lives. Numerous displaced individuals from border towns such as Moreh sought refuge in Myanmar. Efforts have been made to repatriate around 400 of these displaced individuals.

Additionally, searches conducted in various districts, including Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi, and Bishnupur, led to the discovery of arms and ammunition. The Manipur Police reported, "07 (seven) arms and 81 (eighty-one) ammunitions from Imphal East, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts."

Since the onset of the violence on May 3, approximately 4,000 firearms have reportedly been looted from police station armories. Authorities have managed to recover around 1,200 of these arms so far.