Three killed, two injured in gun battle
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 09 2023:
At least three people in eluding a woman got killed while two others suffered injuries in gun battles at Khoken and Sangaithel villages on Friday.
According to local sources, sus-pected armed Kuki militants opened firing around 4:30 am Friday follow-ing which the volunteers guarding the village retaliated leading to a fierce gunfight in the villages.
After the firing ceased, three persons in-cluding a woman were found dead and two injured at Khoken village.
On receipt of report of the gun fight, state forces and personnel of Gorkha Regiment rushed to the area but the three persons were found dead and two others wounded.
A team of Kangpokpi police also arrived at the spot and recovered the three bodies while taking the injured persons for treatment.
It may be mentioned that combing operations were conducted on June 7 at Khoken and Sangaithel villages by a combined team of state police, CRPF and the Gorkha Regiment under 9 Sector AR.
The area domination by the combined security forces was carried out using sniffer dogs though neither arms nor anybody was recovered or arrested from the two villages.
Khoken village lies on the boundary between Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts and attackers and the victims belong to different communities.
Meanwhile, accusing the Meitei community for the killing, Indig-enous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) said that this attack is yet anoth-er example of the utter disregard shown by the perpetrators and demanded swift action.
"The incident also violated the peace process called by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
We urge upon the authorities to take decisive actions against the militants," the ITLF said in a statement.
Committee on Tribals Unity (COTU), through a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that around 3:30 AM on Friday, a vio-lent attack occurred at the Kuki-dominated Khoken Village under Kangpokpi District, which led to the death of three innocent villagers and injuries two others.
"The Kuki community wholeheartedly support-ed the combing operation with the hope that peace would prevail in the area.
Nevertheless, this hope has tarnished and turned into a big tragedy," COTU said.
The committee identified the deceased as 70-year-old Domkhohoi Haokip, 55-year-old Kaimang Guite and 40-year-old langpao Touthang and the injured as Thongneh Haokip (45) and Seiminthang Haokip (20).Additional columns of the Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to control the situation at Khoken village.
Meanwhile, reports of incidents of violence in-cluding burning of houses were received from two other districts.
But official confirmation has not yet been received.
(With inputs from agencies) .