Imphal: Unidentified armed miscreants on Thursday reportedly looted a State Bank of India branch in Churachandpur district amid the ethnic violence which is going to complete one year on May 3rd, 2024.

According to sources, 5 unidentified armed men entered the SBI K. Salbung branch in broad daylight at around 2 PM when there were less customers. The miscreants then held the bank staff and customers at gunpoint and took away around Rs.20 lakh. The SBI K.Salbung branch which the miscreants looted was opened in 2023.

After the looting incident, teams of district police arrived at the bank and started their investigation.  According to police, a case has been registered and a man hunt has begun to catch the looters.

Ever since the ethnic violence that broke out last May, the state has seen looting of banks located in hill districts. Since the ethnic violence broke out in the state, four branches of different banks located in hill districts in the state have been looted by armed miscreants.

In Churachandpur district, on July 10, 2023, the Axis Bank branch at Teddim Road and Thangzam Road’s junction were found looted. In the same month, miscreants looted the Manipur State Cooperative bank located at Kangpokpi district. On November 30, 2023, armed men looted around rupees 18 crores in cash from Punjab National Bank (PNB) located in Ukhrul district headquarters.