Kuki militants fire at farmers
Source: The Sangai Express
Moirang, November 01 2023:
In yet another act of terror, Kuki militants opened fire on a group of farmers who went to harvest crops near the high canal at Phubala under Moirang police station this morning at around 8.30 .
There have been multiple instances of Kuki militants attacking farmers in the past amid the conflict too and such deliberate targeting of people working in crop fields may have been carried out to threaten food supplies.
Today's attack on farmers was carried out from Chingphei Ching side.
The Kuki militants shot two rounds towards the farmers but no one was injured in the firing.
It is reported that there is Sikh Regiment near the site from which the attack was launched while CRPF is being posted near the high canal in a bunker.
Speaking to the media, a woman from Phubala said that they don't have enmity with anyone and want the violence to end.
Saying that Chief Minister N Biren simply speaking of peace amid the situation is unfortunate, she said that they may not be able to harvest any crop if the Government doesn't provide security cover to them.
"We are afraid to go to fields as the Kuki militants can attack us anytime," she said and urged the Government to let the farmers harvest their crops under security cover.
In another instance, Kuki militants fired about 30 rounds from Molngat in Churachandpur towards the western side of Tronglaobi Makha Leikai at around 6.30 pm.
A resident of Tronglaobi said that Kuki militants have been attacking farmers repeatedly during this harvest season.
Saying that the Kuki militants may have been attacking farmers to threaten food supplies, he said that they also haven't planted any crops at Tronglaobi, Terakhongshangbi etc due to security reasons.
What has the Government done so far to prevent attacks on farmers, he asked while urging the Government to take up adequate security measures so that the farmers can do their job without any disturbance.