Kuki militants rain bullets, bombs on Cdos, village volunteers; 5 hurt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 31 2023: In what seems to be well coordinated attacks on security forces, Kuki militants fired a barrage of bombs and rocket pro-pelled grenades (RPGs) at police commandos at Moreh last night, injuring at least four personnel.

Heavily armed Kuki militants launched the attacks on the State security forces at three different locations in Moreh.

Even as four personnel were injured, security forces' retaliatory fire killed at least two Kuki militants and injured four others.

In another attack carried out by Kuki militants at a village in Imphal East at around 4 am today, one village volunteer sustained splinter injuries.

He has been admitted in Raj Medcity and his condition is said to be "serious" .

Kuki militants rain bullets, bombs on Cdos, village volunteers; 5 hurt

Yesterday, Kuki militants launched an attack at Kadangband Part-II, Imphal West and killed one volunteer identified as Ningom- bam Jamesbond, a former journalist.

The number of persons injured in Kuki militants' "well coordinated attacks" on civilians and security forces in different parts of Manipur since yesterday has reached six.

The six include five personnel of State security forces and one village volunteer.

According to sources, the attacks carried out by Kuki militants at Moreh targeted police commandos.

Notably, the "intensified" attacks came minutes after Kuki militants ambushed State police and Special Commandos on routine duty near Assam Rifles' Key Location Point at Moreh injuring one personnel yesterday.

The injured Special Commando personnel, Ponkhalung was brought to RIMS yesterday.

The Kuki militants intensified their attack in the evening by firing a barrage of bullets, bombs and RPGs, said sources.

After a lull for some hours, heavily armed Kuki militants attacked the commando personnel at their camps and barracks at Moreh Turel Wangma at around 11.30 pm yesterday.

The attack came from Pombikhok village, Moreh Ward Number 9 .

The attack at the temporary camp injured four personnel and were evacuated to 5 Assam Rifles KLP Unit Hospital for treatment.

The injured commando personnel were airlifted using helicopter from Moreh to Imphal.

They are presently undergoing treatment at RIMS Hospital in different wards. The injured commando personnel have been identified as Rifleman of 3rd IRB Diliangam Kamson, Rifleman of 3rd IRB M Priyokumar, Rifleman of 7th Manipur Rifles N Borjao and Rifleman of 7th IRB M Sunil.

All of them are presently attached to Moreh Commando.

During the attack, one rocket propelled grenade (RPG) reportedly burst through the wall and exploded inside a room damaging the building.

The loud explosion damaged the hearing of one of the commando personnel.

Commandos and Moreh police personnel retaliated by firing rounds of bullets toward the Kuki militants.

The gunfight continued till 2 am today.

At least two Kuki militants were killed in the retaliatory fire by security forces and four others sustained injuries, said the sources.

The Kuki militants who have been gunned down are suspected to be J Haokip from Holenphai and K Mate of Moljol village.

The Sangai Express couldn't further verify the identities.

After the incident, the District Magistrate, Teng-noupal has imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in the whole of Moreh town.

Since then, there were no reports of any gunfight in the Moreh town till noon today.

Heavy security measures have been put in place in the town and vulnerable areas, and security forces are on high alert for possible attack from Kuki militants, said the sources.

Amid the tight security measures taken up, later at around 4.40 pm today, Kuki militants again ambushed security personnel in the town and a gunfight broke out.

The gun battle was on till the time of filing this report.

In another Kuki militants' unprovoked attacks, one village volunteer sustained injuries at Tumukhong under Moirangpurel police station, Imphal East.

The attack came at around 4 am today.

The injured village volunteer has been identified as Chingkham Lamyanba (23), son of Ibotomba of Tumukhong Awang Leikai.

He sustained splinter injuries on the lower part of his body.

He has been brought to Raj Medicity and is receiving treatment.

His condition is said to be "serious" .

The Kuki militants fired bombs and bullets toward Tumukhong Meitei village from a nearby hill range.

Village volunteers retaliated by firing some rounds of bullet toward the Kuki militants using licensed guns.

The gunfight lasted for some 30 minutes.

Even as sources said there may be some casualties on Kuki militants' side, The Sangai Express couldn't independently verify this.

The injured village volunteer, Lamyanba is a married man and has a small child.

His family have been staying at a relief camp at Moirangpurel after they were displaced from Tumukhong village.

He was guarding his village when Kuki militants launched the attack and injured him, said his mother, who has urged the State Government to take up measures to protect Meiteis and to prevent Kuki militants from attacking civilians in the peripheries of the valley.

A gun battle also broke out with Kuki militants and security forces after the former launched an attack at Koutruk and Kadangband Mathak Meitei village from a nearby hill range at around 1.30 pm today.

After receiving a report of the firing, commando personnel of Imphal West rushed to the incident site to bring the situation under control.

Heavy exchange of firing between security forces and Kuki militants continued till 4 pm.

Intermittent firing was going on in the area till the time of filing this report.

Gunfight was also reported from Phayeng Mathak at around 5 pm today between Kuki militants and village volunteers.

Intermittent firing was on till the time of filing this report.