Moreh SDPO slain, three hurt in Kuki ambush
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 31 2023: A highly decorated police officer, SDPO Moreh Chingtham Anand Kumar was killed in an attack by suspected Kuki militants while overseeing a ground clearing work for construction of a Helipad at Eastern Shine Ground, Moreh on Tuesday morning.

SDPO Anand Kumar (50), son of Kunjabihari of Kwakeithel Moirangpurel Leikai, left behind three sons and a daughter.

Consequent to the incident, state government sent additional police team to Moreh only to get ambushed by Kuki militants in Senam village area, which left three commando personnel injured.

The injured commandos have been identified as head constable Shirak Thuikhavang (39) son of S Samuel of Kachai village, Ukhrul district presently posted at Imphal West CDO (gunshot wound at hand and grazing wound at abdomen), constable S Sekharjit (29) son of S Priyananda of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai, Imphal West presently posted at Imphal West Police CDO (gunshot wound at leg), and constable Leimapokpam Bangkim (39) son of L Tomba of Yairipok Khoirom, Thoubal district attached to IGP Zone-I (gunshot wound at leg).

The three were rushed to 26 Sector Assam Rifles field hospital at Pallel and later evacuated to Raj Medicity in ambulances of Jivan Hospital after providing first aid.

Police source said that Anand Kumar along with other senior police officers and personnel were clearing the Eastern Shine ground, located around 1.5 km from Moreh police station, for construction of a Helipad on Tuesday morning.

Around 9.30 am, Kuki militants with sophisticated weapons attacked the police team from the nearby Canan Veng locality located around 250 metres away from the ground.

SDPO Anand Kumar was hit on his abdomen with the bullet exiting through his back.

He was airlifted to Imphal in Assam Rifles helicopter but succumbed to injury on the way.

The police team at the ground retaliated and launched search operation while additional commando personnel, who were stranded in Tengnoupal, also managed to reach Moreh and joined the search operation conducted till late evening.

However, there is no report of any arrest till the time of filing this report.

As soon as report of the attacked was received, additional police teams from Imphal led by IGP Zone-1 Themthing Ngashangva rushed towards Moreh.

However, well-armed Kuki militants ambushed the team in Senam village area, located around 11 km from Pallel police station towards Moreh in which three commando personnel were injured.

The gunfight took place for over half an hour before the Kuki militants fled the area.

The CDO team continued their journey and reached Tengnoupal in the evening.

From there, they moved towards Moreh with AR team and reached the border town late evening.

Meanwhile, police department arranged a memorial service at 1st Manipur Rifles ground where top officials of Manipur police and central paramilitary forces paid their last respect to the slain police officer.

Post mortem examination of the officer concluded at JNIMS hospital at around 3 pm.

As police were preparing for transporting the body to the 1st MR ground, family members and JAC formed by local people of his residence arrived around 3.30 pm and refused to accept the body demanding justice.

Consequently, the memorial service was deferred.

Mention may be made that Chingtham Anand Kumar passed out from Sainik School Imphal in 1985 .

He was honoured with President's Police Medal for Gallantry on the occasion of Republic Day celebration, 2009 by the then Governor Gurbachan Jagat.

He got promoted from Inspector to DSP (MPS) in February 2009 .

Before that, he had served as OC of Moreh police station and continued to hold the same charge even after his promotion.

He was recently posted as SDPO Moreh.

Apart from central and state force injured, Kuki militants had so far killed seven service personnel including SDPO Moreh Anand Kumar.

Rifleman Heisnam Jiten of Manipur Rifles was killed on May 17, rifleman Alok Nath of Assam Rifles on May 11, ASI Th Kiran of Manipur police on May 28, rifleman Narendra Kumar of BSF on May 29, rifleman Ranjit Yadav of BSF on June 6 and Tourangbam Rishikumar of Manipur Rifles on August 3 .

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