Violence rages in Kangpokpi despite blockade lift
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, June 05 2023:
All is not well even after the suspension of road blockade along the National Highway -02 as suspected Meitei people attacked Kuki villages of Phaileng, Luwangsanggol and Kangchup areas in the foothills of Kangpokpi district on Monday.
Gun firing was heard at Phaileng and Luwangsanggol villages from around 12.40 am Monday.
The gunfight continued the whole day with the armed people suspected to be Meiteis con-tinuing to attack and the Kuki community counter-attacking to defend their villages.
How-ever, no casualties have been reported till the time of filing of this report.
In another firing incident at Kangchup area, group of Meitei people launched attack on Kangchup Songlung village and ultimately, burnt the village to ashes.
It was reported that in its counter-attack to defend the village, Kuki volunteers shot dead around six people during the gunfight.
Meanwhile, a minor boy and his mother along with another woman companion were alleged-ly burnt to death after brutally torturing them at Iroisemba in Imphal West district on Sunday.
The incident occurred when the trio was on their way to Imphal for treatment of the minor boy who had sustained a bullet injury on his head when Meitei groups attacked Kangchup area.
According to Leilon Village Authority and Leilon Area Coor-dination Committee, the 7-year old boy, who was the son of one Joshua Tonsing Hangshing of Kangchup Chingkhong, suffered shot wound on the head in firing by the Meitei attackers.
The minor boy was accompanied by his mother Meena and another woman Lydia w/o Naoton of Kangchup Twikun.
Both women belonged to the Meitei community and were rushing the boy to RIMS Hospital for treatment.
However, they were stopped by a mob, who burnt them to death at Iroisemba around 7.30 pm.
Meanwhile, the attacks and counter-at-tacks between the warring communities were reported at Phaileng and Luwang-sanggol villages till the filing of this report.