Manipur: Armed miscreants fire shots at Ratha Yatra chariot in Imphal

Unknown armed miscreants attacked a chariot being prepared for the upcoming Ratha Yatra festival in Imphal, Manipur, early on July 5. The incident occurred around 12:30 am near the crossing of Sana Konung.

As per sources, the miscreants arrived in a car from the direction of Advance Hospital, fired two rounds at the parked chariot, and quickly fled towards Palace Gate. The Imphal East police were alerted and promptly arrived at the scene to investigate and search for the perpetrators.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear. This incident comes amid ongoing unrest in the region and public debate on social media platforms about whether the Ratha Yatra festival, scheduled for July 8, should be celebrated or not.

Last year, due to similar concerns, the Ratha Yatra was observed on a smaller scale, with only ritual ceremonies taking place and the traditional procession being cancelled.