Kuki militants led by 'women shields' torch more houses
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, July 23 2023: Kuki militants 'led' by hundreds of women purportedly as human shields have torched another 12 abandoned Meitei houses and a Children Treasure High School at Torbung Bazar Mamang Leikai under Phougakchao Ikhai police station.

A gunfight was also reported from Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai today at around 12 noon after Kuki militants fired several rounds towards the village.

Reportedly, the Kuki militants with hundreds of their associates (women) in the front line advanced towards Torbung Mamang Leikei by firing several rounds last evening at around 6.30 and set the Children Treasure High School on fire.

The number of aggressors could be around 300 .

Kuki militants led by 'women shields' torch more houses

After torching the school, the Kuki militants and their associates, mostly women, set on fire 12 abandoned houses belonging to Meitei families.

The aggressors fled from the area after the local village volunteers fired shots in retaliation.

Later at about 9.15 pm, heavily armed Kuki militants lobbed 5/6 bombs at Phougakchao Ikhai Maning Leikai today from the side of Kuki dominated Torbung Sabal Maning Leikai.

The Kuki militants retreated after the State commandos and village volunteers returned fire.

There is no report of any casualty.

It is reported that the village volunteers took up arms as the Central security forces viz BSF and CRPF deployed in the area didn't stop the onslaught of the Kuki militants.

The Kuki militants and their associates, while retreating, tried to take away the Casspir vehicle of the BSF but the same was foiled by the local volunteers and the BSF.

The Kuki militants also used about 30 locally made bombs while attacking Torbung Bazar Mamang Leikai.

This correspondent saw some spots where the bombs went off and several other unexploded bombs at different areas at Phougakchao Ikhai Maning Leikai.

Today, a group of media persons tried to go to Torbung Bazar Mamang Leikai and other places attacked by the Kuki militants but the same was denied due to security reasons.

The media persons nonetheless captured some images from a safe distance and saw graffiti written as Lamka and Kukiland on the police barricades set up at Kangvai.

Interacting with the media, a local of Phougakchao Ikhai Mamang Leikai claimed that last night arson was carried out by 1400/1500 Kukis.

Saying that the last night attack was carried out after proper planning as the Kuki militants were shielded by hundreds of women, he said that they didn't retaliate initially to avoid casualty among the women in the frontline.

He further claimed that the Kuki militants used sophisticated weapons and local bombs in the attack.

Saying that they and the BSF also fired shots only to prevent the Kuki militants and their associates from advancing further as they didn't want the women to be injured, he said that the frequent attacks by Kuki militants have made it clear that they (the Kuki militants) want to take full control of Torbung and Phougakchao Ikhai after driving away all the Meitei inhabitants and as such the Government should take up immediate action.

He said that they now will face the aggression of Kuki militants appropriately even if they have a human shield.

Claiming that sightings of aerial (helicopter) surveys by security forces have become a common phenomenon whenever there is a gunfight, the villagers said there could be something fishy in this.