Gunfight at Thangjing, 10 Kuki houses ablaze
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal/Bishnupur, August 08 2023: Heavy gunfight was reported between Kuki militants, and state forces and village volunteers in three villages located along Thangjing hill range, behind Phubala village in Bishnupur district.

According to reports culled from the spot, after receiving input that Kuki militants from three Kuki villages, namely N Chingphei, Pangyang and Siyang were planning to launch an intense attack at Thinungei and Phubala on Tuesday, the Meitei village volunteers in the area moved in but were met with gunfire from the militants.

The village volunteers retaliated and chased away the Kuki militants.

They then set fire to around 10 houses in the three villages and also destroyed two bunkers built by the militants.

On receiving news of the gunfight, Bishnupur District Police Commando also rushed in but were intercepted by personnel of Sikh Regiment, backed by Assam Rifles.

The state police and Meira Paibi were prevented from moving further at Thinungei Maning.

After learning that the state police and Meira Paibi were intercepted by AR and Sikh Regiment, the village volunteers, who were engaged in the gunfight for around 45 minutes, retreated via Phubala Maning without any injuries.

Mention may be made here that since the conflict began on May 3, Kuki militants had set fire to Meitei houses and destroyed properties in Torbung, Phougakchao Ikhai and Kangvai areas of Bishnupur district.

The militants have also been continuously attacking Torbung, Phougakchao Ikhai, Terakhongshangbi, Khudekpi and Tronglaobi areas, injuring and killing many civilians and security personnel.

On August 5, three people including a father-son due were butchered and shot dead in Pangal Lamkhai, Kwakta Ward no 8 .

However, another report conveyed that several rounds were fired from Chingphei, Pangyang and Sayang villages along Thangjing hill range under Henglep AC of Churachandpur district, towards the farmers working at the fields located closed to the hills in Bishnupur district early Tuesday morning.

On receiving news of the attack, Bishnupur district police commandos along with the state forces previously deployed in the area and village volunteers moved towards the villages and engaged in a gunfight with the Kuki militants.

It is believed that at least three Kuki militants were killed and several others left injured during the gunfight, which began from 6am till 8.30 am.

No injury was reported on the side of state forces and village volunteers.

Later, the enraged village volunteers set fire to around three houses in the villages.

The report continued that after receiving news of the gunfight, a team of 2 Manipur Rifles deployed in Phubala rushed to the location but were obstructed from moving forward by central forces present nearby, leading to a brief stand-off.

As part of their duty, the 2MR personnel, who had been deployed to guard the farmers in the area, patrol the area daily till High Canal Mathak, which is under their jurisdiction.

However, central forces have been obstructing the personnel from carrying out their duty under their own jurisdiction, in addition to conflict-prone areas.

Thus, it has been appealed to the authority concerned to look into such actions of the central forces.

It may be recounted that one farmer Yumnam Rajen (42) s/o Kao of Phubala Awang Mamang Ward no 2 sustained serious injuries after he was shot at by Kuki militants from in front of the reserved forest, while he was working in the fields near Phubala Maning High Canal on the morning of July 8 .

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