Gunfights ensue, Kom couple rescued
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 16 2023: Even as a Kom couple was rescued from Bethel village, security forces exchanged fire with Kuki militants at Koutruk and Haraothel area in Imphal West.

Yesterday, heavily armed Kuki militants and Kuki village volunteers started firing at civilian settlements at Koutruk from Haraothel side at around 7.40 pm.

After the Kuki militants and the well armed village volunteers fired several rounds of bullets, personnel of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) deployed at Koutruk Makha Leikai retaliated and a gunfight ensued.

The heavy exchange of fire lasted nearly one hour.

Today, the Kuki militants and Kuki village volunteers started firing again at around 5 am.

IRB personnel retaliated and both sides exchanged fire for around 20 minutes.

While there has been no casualty on the security force's side, the Kuki militants must have suffered some casualties, said sources.

Meanwhile, the IRB personnel, yesterday rescued the Kom elder couple from Bethel village near Koutruk.

The couple have been identified as L Muichao Kom (76) and his wife K Nengchong Kom (75) .

They were rescued during the security force's retaliatory effort to drive away Kuki militants and their armed village volunteers from the area to avoid future unprovoked attacks on civilian settlements in Koutruk, said sources.

After verifying the identity of the two elders, IRB personnel handed them over to Kom Union Manipur (KUM) through Lamshang police, COCOMI and Meira Paibis of Koutruk.

Kom Union Manipur president Serto Ahao Kom has appreciated and thanked State security forces, COCOMI and Meira Paibis for rescuing the two Kom elders from Bethel village.

Appreciating the security forces, Meitei womenfolk and COCOMI, Serto Ahao Kom expressed hope that there would be unity and love among the different communities and they would forgive each other to coexist together in harmony.

COCOMI Core Committee member L Jayenta said all communities should strive to end the present turmoil and bring peace.

He urged all concerned to rescue and hand over members of other communities not involved in the present conflict to COCOMI.

He said COCOMI had earlier rescued and handed over members of the Kom community to Kom Union Manipur (KUM) .

Comment