Teen, commando killed in attack by Kuki
Source: The Sangai Express
Moirang, July 07 2023:
A teenager and a commando personnel were killed when Kuki militants, armed with sophisticated weapons, launched simultaneous attacks at two places at Kwakta in Bishnupur district today.
On the other hand, six women sustained injuries after they were assaulted and beaten up by Army and Assam Rifles troops at Kwakta Bazar.
Heavily armed Kuki militants launched simultaneous attacks at Phougakchao Ikhai.
Awang Leikai and Kwakta at around 1.30 am today.
Security forces comprising Manipur Police, police commandos, BSF and local volunteers retaliated resulting in a pitched gun battle.
There was a brief lull after about 30 minutes of heavy exchange of fire.
Taking advantage of the lull, Mayengbam Ibomcha sent his 17-year old son, Mayengbam Rickey Meitei from Kwakta Moirang Turel Mapal to Terakhongshangbi where the boy's mother has been taking shelter in a relief camp.
As Rickey went to his mother on an e-scooter, he was shot dead by Kuki militants who laid an ambush on Tiddim Road near Kwakta Sericulture Training Institute.
A car (Alto) which was driven by commandos on the same road about the same time too came under heavy fire.
Even though the car skidded into the road side drain, all the commando personnel escaped unhurt.
On the other hand, there was a tense stand-off between local womenfolk and AR troops at Kwakta Bazar.
The women were asking the AR troops as to why they were blocking commando personnel from moving to the encounter site.
The women even took off their phaneks and erected a barricade of phaneks, and thus they blocked the movement of AR troops for around four hours.
In the meantime, the womenfolk ensured that the State forces moved to the site where the gun battle was going on.
Later, the AR troops assaulted and charged the women with batons, and made their way through.
As a result, six women sustained injuries.
Some women who were involved in the stand-off said that the Assam Rifles troops parked their vehicles across the road at Kwakta Bazar and prevented police reinforcements from reaching the battle field.
It was only after the local womenfolk raised an uproar that the Assam Rifles and Army moved away their vehicles and allowed the commando personnel to proceed to the battlefield, they said.
The gun battle which started at around 1.30 am went on till 5.30 am before the firing ceased for a brief period.
Then intermittent firing started again at around 10 am.
Meanwhile, BSF personnel deployed at the seven Meitei houses located to the western side of Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai were driven out by Kukis.
These seven houses were taken over by Kuki militants after attacking the whole village on May 3 .
The gun battle became more intense at around 5 pm.
At around 6 pm, one commando personnel was hit by a bullet on the head.
Even though he was rushed to Raj Medicity, he was declared brought dead by the doctor on duty.
The commando personnel killed in the line of duty has been identified as Pukhram Ranbir alias Naoba (42) of Moirang Patlou Leikai.
It has been learnt that five Kuki militants sustained bullet injuries and two of them succumbed to their injuries, said police in a statement.
The gun battle has been raging on till the time of filing this report.
Dead bodies of Mayengbam Rickey Meitei and Pukhram Ranbir alias Naoba have been deposited at RIMS mortuary.
Mayengbam Rickey had just finished his Class 12 (Arts) from Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School.
Meanwhile, students, teaching and non-teaching staff of Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School have condoled the demise of Rickey.
They also held a protest demonstration denouncing war and all forms of aggression.
The students put up placards which read "Dear Prime Minister, our young friends/students are dying every day.
How many more days should we wait to see peace in Manipur?", "We want peace, not war", "Restore normalcy, resume normal classes", "We strongly condemn killing of innocent students, we condemn killing of Mayengbam Rickey Meitei" .