<p>Three personnel from the central Rapid Action Force deployed in violence-hit Manipur were arrested by the state police on Saturday for their alleged involvement in an attempt to set fire to a local shop in New Checkon area in Imphal, officials said.</p>.<p>A Home Ministry statement said Somdev Arya, Kuldeep Singh and Pradeep Kumar of the RAF have been suspended with immediate effect and an enquiry into their conduct will be instituted.</p>.<p>The three central policemen had come to the area on Friday night in civilian clothes in a car and allegedly tried to set on fire a meat shop owned by a Naga tribal businessman, police said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/over-3300-candidates-appear-for-upsc-prelims-in-imphal-in-violence-hit-manipur-1222663.html" target="_blank">Over 3,300 candidates appear for UPSC prelims in Imphal in violence-hit Manipur</a></strong></p>.<p>They fled from the place after local inhabitants protested. A CCTV footage with the police captured the fracas and led the police to the culprits.</p>.<p>They were later arrested by Porompat Police Station on Saturday night.</p>.<p>The suspension order came ahead of a visit to the troubled northeastern state by union home minister Amit Shah.</p>.<p>Clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.</p>.<p>The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.</p>.<p>Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives and left scores of people injured.</p>
<p>Three personnel from the central Rapid Action Force deployed in violence-hit Manipur were arrested by the state police on Saturday for their alleged involvement in an attempt to set fire to a local shop in New Checkon area in Imphal, officials said.</p>.<p>A Home Ministry statement said Somdev Arya, Kuldeep Singh and Pradeep Kumar of the RAF have been suspended with immediate effect and an enquiry into their conduct will be instituted.</p>.<p>The three central policemen had come to the area on Friday night in civilian clothes in a car and allegedly tried to set on fire a meat shop owned by a Naga tribal businessman, police said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/over-3300-candidates-appear-for-upsc-prelims-in-imphal-in-violence-hit-manipur-1222663.html" target="_blank">Over 3,300 candidates appear for UPSC prelims in Imphal in violence-hit Manipur</a></strong></p>.<p>They fled from the place after local inhabitants protested. A CCTV footage with the police captured the fracas and led the police to the culprits.</p>.<p>They were later arrested by Porompat Police Station on Saturday night.</p>.<p>The suspension order came ahead of a visit to the troubled northeastern state by union home minister Amit Shah.</p>.<p>Clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.</p>.<p>The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.</p>.<p>Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives and left scores of people injured.</p>