Kuki militants line up bunkers, not far away from AR posts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 31 2023: Notwithstanding the strong measures taken up by the State Government to remove illegal bunkers across the hills and valley, well armed Kuki militants have built a chain of bunkers and trenches, not so far away from AR posts along the Kadangband-Koutruk range.

The movement of large number of Kuki militants wielding sophisticated weapons and the presence of sprawling bunkers on the range overlooking Kadang-band, Koutruk, Senjam Chirang and Kanto Sabal villages were detected by camera drones in contrast to the claim of AR that all bunkers have been demolished.

The said hill range is nestling Kuki villages namely Bethel, Haraothel, N Mulai, Sansang, Leilon Vaiphei etc.

Kuki militants line up bunkers, not far away from AR posts

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a village defence volunteer standing guard at Koutruk village in Imphal West said they have managed to study the movements of many Kuki militants via camera drones.

The villagers have put forth their request to dismantle these bunkers to the Assam Rifles stationed along the buffer zone, he said.

The Assam Rifles had however told them that all bunkers have been destroyed and there are only area domination teams in the said areas, he said.

The reality is otherwise as they have managed to detect the presence of a score of heavily armed Kuki militants and more than 30 active bunkers along the range with the help of a drone camera, he said.

It is very saddening that the Assam Rifles are blatantly ignoring the presence of the heavily armed militants, he said.

As bunkers built in the valley are removed without any hesitation, the bunkers in the hill should also be removed at the earliest.

These bunkers, built by digging into the ground and well camouflaged, are hard to detect from the village but they can be easily detected via drones, he said.

From these strategic positions, they are disturbing peace in the foothill villages by opening fire regularly.

Instead of shielding the Meitei villages from such surprise attacks, the AR have at times resorted to firing on the hapless Meiteis, he charged.

The villagers who are guarding the vulnerable villages round the clock also alleged that AR personnel are "siding" with the Kuki militants although they are fully aware of the dirty tactics used by the Kuki militants.

Another defence volunteer added that Kuki militants fired 7/8 rounds of bullets towards Kanto Sabal Maning Chingthak from neighbouring Leilon Vaiphei village side on July 26 and at Koutruk village from nearby foothill the next night.

Several rounds of bullets were also rained upon Koutruk village on July 29 at around 9.30 pm.

Amidst such incessant attacks, AR personnel would multiply the woes by firing upon village defence volunteers whenever they try to retaliate the attacks from Kuki militants leaving the Meiteis toothless and raising the chances of more casualty, he alleged.

With a very few State force personnel helping in guarding the foothill Meitei villages, lives and properties of Meiteis are at risk, he said while urging authorities concerned to raise the number of the State security forces along the foothill villages at the earliest.

The affected villagers went on to state that they have been living a tiresome and sleepless nights since the outbreak of the ethnic clash as they often come under incessant attacks from advantageous elevated hill range.

They are extremely impoverished and struggling to meet daily expenses as they cannot leave their position and houses for more than two and half months, they said.

Thankfully, women and children are safer taking shelter at various relief camps but the men who stayed back are going through a very tough time as they continue to stand guard with scarce food and spending sleepless nights.

Under such conditions, many have fallen ill and it is a nightmare for them as they hardly have any money to receive treatment, they said.

Uncertainty looms large whenever sun sets as Kuki militants never take their eyes off and never fail to take advantage over any lapse, they said.

"How much longer will the indigenous people have to suffer from these reign of terror unleashed by the illegal immigrants and live lives of refugees in our own land," they questioned the Government asking for early restoration of peace and normalcy.