SoO militants' attack at Meitei villages go on unabated
Villagers hit back, run over Nazareth camp of SoO outfit
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 04 2023:
Notwithstanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's stern warning against violation of SoO ground rules, Kuki militants belonging to SoO groups and illegal migrants have been continuously attacking Meitei villages.
The combined force of Kuki militants and illegal migrants burnt down 150 Meitei houses at Serou including the house of MLA K Ranjit at Serou, Kakching district last night.
The Kuki militants carried out similar attacks at Senjam Chirang and Phayeng in Imphal West district.
Enraged by the repeated attacks, the villagers assembled together and fought back the militants resulting in a tense gun battle.
Sources informed that a combined force of SoO militants and illegal migrants from Myanmar unleashed another phase of their narco-terrorism at Serou at around 10.30 pm yesterday and burnt down 150 houses.
Although MLA K Ranjit's house was also torched by the aggressors, timely intervention by security forces saved it from total destruction.
It was reported that 50 per cent of the house was burnt down.
On receiving information about the arson, a combined team of IRB, BSF and local villagers attacked UKLF's designated camp known as Nazareth Camp located at Sugnu at around 10.30 am today.
After a fierce gun battle, the security forces busted the designated camp.
Later it was burnt down by the villagers.
Militants who were staying at the designated camp fled to a nearby village called Kusuphai, said the sources.
Sporadic exchange of fire was reported at Serou and surrounding areas at the time of filing this report.
As the Assam Rifles troops remained silent spectators since the early days of the violence and as the villagers do not trust them, the villagers restricted their movement.
Now, security forces have taken positions in between Sugnu and Serou so as to thwart possible attacks by Kuki militants.
At the same time, the villagers have been keeping a close watch to check the entry of AR troops in the area.
It is suspected that at least four Kuki militants were killed in today's gun battle but the exact figure of casualty could not be confirmed till the time of filing this report.
On the other hand, Kuki militants, apart from opening fire, started torching houses at Senjam Chirang and Phayeng in Imphal West today resulting in a tense encounter.
According to information from the spot, Kuki militants started firing at Senjam Chirang in the morning.
State forces stationed nearby retaliated but AR troops stationed at Kangchup started patrolling the area and created obstacles for the State security forces.
Subsequently, the encounter ceased.
Later at around 3 pm, Kuki militants set fire on one house and a saw mill belonging to a Meitei family at Kangchup Chingkhong.
State forces together with the villagers retaliated at around 4 pm and it resulted in a gun battle at Phayeng.
It is believed that 3/4 Kuki militants were killed in the gun battle.
A tense situation prevailed at Phayeng at the time of filing this report while large groups of people prevented movement of AR troops on Uripok-Kangchup road.
Comment
