Manipur Mother And 8-Year-Old Boy Killed When Mob Sets Ambulance On Fire

Manipur's month-long unrest has left permanent marks, including the horrific death of an eight-year-old boy caught in the crossfire. On Sunday night, a crowd set fire to an ambulance transporting the boy, his mother, and a relative to a hospital in Manipur's West Imphal district.

The kid was brought to the hospital after being injured by a gunshot during fatal ethnic skirmishes in the northeastern state between tribal groups and the majority Meitei population, according to news agencies Reuters and PTI.

Tonsing Hangsing, 8, his 45-year-old mother Meena Hangsing, and Lydia Lourembam, 37, have been identified, according to officials.

Manipur Boy Killed

The tragedy occurred in the rural Iroisemba region of Imphal West district, when the ambulance transporting the family became encumbered by a mob. His father was not present at the moment. According to Reuters, he was accompanied by his mother and a male relative.

The child's father informed local news station Northeast Live that he had yet to receive the remains of the deceased.

An anonymous police officer told Reuters that those in the ambulance had begged for compassion, but the mob refused and set the ambulance on fire.

The child's father stated that he heard that his son and wife had been "burnt beyond recognition" and that only a few bones remained in the ambulance. According to sources, the kid and his mother were residing at an Assam Rifles relief camp in Kangchup. Shooting broke out in the neighbourhood on June 4 evening, and despite being in the camp, he was injured by a bullet.

Sources told PTI that a senior Assam Rifles officer had called the Imphal police and requested an ambulance. The child was supposed to be transported to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences but a mob set the ambulance aflame.

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