Manipur: Mob vandalises Bishnupur school boarding after student found dead

A mob vandalised a school boarding facility in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Saturday night after a 16-year-old student was found dead nearby, police said, according to Northeast Now.

The teenager, a higher secondary student, was found hanging from a tree near the Kangbei Maril river close to Oinam Bazar, under Nambol police station, on Saturday evening.

What happened at the boarding

A senior police official said the crowd targeted the boarding facility of Brighter English Academy and set fire to furniture and other belongings on the premises. Security forces fired tear gas shells and used other crowd-control measures to break up the mob and bring the situation under control.

The official rejected claims circulating on social media that the whole facility had been burnt down. According to the police, the damage was limited to furniture and items kept outside the building.

Family alleges foul play

The student's family has alleged foul play. They have questioned how a minor who was in the institution's care came to die outside its premises, and have asked the state government to order an inquiry into the circumstances of the death.

Police said a case has been registered in connection with the incident. Heavy security has been deployed around the Nambol-Oinam area to prevent any further violence.

Why it matters

Bishnupur district, in the southern part of the Imphal valley, has seen repeated tension during Manipur's ethnic conflict, and incidents involving young people often draw large crowds and quick protests. Rumours shared online have fuelled unrest in the state in the past, which is why police moved to correct the claim that the boarding had been burnt down.

NEInsider will report on the findings of the police inquiry and any action taken.

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