Kuki militants resume offensive
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 06 2024: With the onset of the paddy harvesting season, Kuki militants have resumed their attacks on Meitei people, particularly at peripheral and foothill areas.

Laikhong in Imphal East district under Andro Assembly segment and Koutruk in Imphal West district under Sekmai Assembly segment came under attacks from Kuki militants today.

Thamnapokpi in Imphal East district under Yaingangpokpi police station has seen attacks from Kuki militants five times since the beginning of November.

At around 4.20 am on November 5, Kuki militants opened fire towards Thamnapokpi village from the hills located to its West.

Although there was no human casualty, one house was damaged as it was hit by several bullets.

One Lairenlakpam Pramo said that it was the fifth time Kuki militants attacked Thamnapokpi since the beginning of the current month.

Security forces, instead of fighting and driving away the Kuki militants, have been imposing restrictions on the villagers.

Security forces have allowed the villagers to tend to their paddy fields only between 10 am and 3 pm, Pramo said.

Asking how they could work in paddy fields under such restrictions, Pramo said that the villagers are literally left to face all the risks for working in paddy fields.

At around 12.15 pm today, Kuki militants fired around 30 rounds of bullets at Laikhong village of Imphal East district from the direction of Satang village, Kangpokpi district.

The Kuki militants ceased firing only after Gurkha Rifles stationed nearby retaliated.

The Kuki militants opened fire as Laikhong villagers were working in paddy fields.

But fortunately, there was no casualty, said a source.

Further, Kuki militants fired five/six rounds of bullet toward Koutruk from the direction of Haraothel village, Kangpokpi district this afternoon.

The firing took place when villagers were working in the paddy fields.

Neither village volunteers nor security forces retaliated.

Yet, there was no report of any casualty.

Notably, Kuki militants launched fierce attacks against Meitei people at different locations during last year's paddy harvesting season, and there were many casualties then.

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