Kuki militants' attacks go on unabated; villagers demand removal of bunkers
Source: The Sangai Express
Moirang/Imphal, July 22 2023:
Heavy exchange of fire was reported from Torbung in Bishnupur district as Kuki militants burnt down a school and at least six houses late in the evening today.
The incident happened at around 6.45 pm at Torbung Bazar Mamang Leikai, where violence was first reported on May 3 .
Sources said the Kuki militants first fired indiscriminately at the Meitei settlements at Torbung Bazar Mamang Leikai and started burning Meitei houses at around 6.45 pm.
The personnel of Kumaon Regiment who were deployed in the area returned fire and a gunfight ensued which lasted some time.
The firing again resumed at around 9.30 pm and a heavy gunfight ensued after Bishnupur police commandos rushed in.
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The gunfight spread to other areas as well with BSF and commandos exchanging fire with Kuki militants at Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai and Moirang Turel Mapal.
While there was no report of any injuries, the gunfights were on at the time of filing this report.
On the other hand, locals of Sekmai and Lamshang Constituencies have appealed to the Centre and Manipur Government to dismantle all bunkers installed in Kang-pokpi district adjacent to Meitei villages after Kuki militants launched a fresh gun attack at Koutruk Mathak Leikai from a bunker set up in close proximity to the village.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, locals of Koutruk said that the Kuki militants attacked them using sophisticated weapons from around 10.30 last night till 3 am today.
They said that the attack was launched from a bunker set up at a village known as Haraothel by the Kukis which is only 100 metres away from Koutruk Mathak Leikai.
Urging the Government to destroy all the bunkers set up by Kuki militants and their associates in the foothill stretch from Sangaithel to Kanglatongbi including Koutruk, they claimed that the Assam Rifles, however, seems to be taking sides.
The Assam Rifles simply doesn't care about the safety of Meiteis, they claimed.
Later, a public meeting attended by representatives of all localities of Sekmai and Lamshang Assembly Constituencies was held at Koutruk and it resolved to mount pressure on the Government to remove all bunkers of Kuki militants along the foothill stretch from Sangaithel to Kanglatongbi.