A mob set on fire at least 30 houses and shops and engaged in a shootout with security forces in Manipur’s Moreh district on Wednesday, officials said.

The abandoned houses were in the Moreh Bazar area close to the Myanmar border.

The mob also partially burnt the Forest Guest House at Moreh.

Following the arson, agun battle broke out between the attackers and the security forces, officials said, adding that the security personnel later dispersed the mob.

The incident came a day after two buses used by the security forces to transport personnel were torched by a mob in Kangpokpi district, the officials said.

The incident occurred at Sapormeina when the buses were coming from Dimapur on Tuesday evening.

No casualty was reported.

Locals stopped the buses bearing Manipur registration numbers at Sapormeina and insisted that they would check if any member of another community was on board, the officials said. Some of them set the buses on fire.

The police on Wednesday night said nine people, including a minor, were arrested in connection with the incident of torching buses.

Chief minister N. Biren Singh said the construction of temporary houses at Sajiwa in Imphal and Yaithibi Loukol in Thoubal district is nearing completion.

“Very soon, families from relief camps will be able to move into these homes. The state government is taking up all possible measures to rehabilitate the people affected by the recent violence, both in the hills and the valley,” Singh said in a Twitter post.

The chief minister had last month said his government would build 3,000-4,000 pre-fabricated houses to accommodate people who had to flee their houses because of the strife in the state.

Violence broke out in the northeastern state nearly three months ago, killing over 160 people and injuring hundreds.