Many houses torched, gunfight breaks out
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 29 2023:
Suspected armed Kuki militants torched around 10 houses in Lei - makhortg area, which be-long to Meetei and Nepali communities, on Monday around 12.30 pm, following which a fierce gunfight broke out between state forces and Kuki militants.
The destroyed houses were at Leimakhong Keithel, Lei-makhong Chmgmang and Ingourok Chingmang ar-eas, while one of the hous-es belonged to a Nepali.
On seeing the houses burning, personnel of state police, IRB and Manipur Rifles rushed there only to be fired upon by the armed militants, who were hiding in the nearby hill range.
A fierce gunfight took place but there is no report of any casualty on both sides.
On the other hand, the irate Meetei residents stormed Premnagar area but were attacked by armed Kuki militants.
Though none was hurt in the incident, the residents ex-pressed resentment against alleged silence/inaction by the Assam Rifles personnel posted.
IG (LO) Themthing and SP Imphal West lbomcha also rushed there to control the situation.
In the evening too, state forces and armed Kuki mili-tants got engaged in gunfight in Kanto Sabal area, in which an MR jawan and a civilian suffered gunshot wounds, and were evacuated to hospital.