After bomb fitted drone attack at Koutruk, rocket attack kills another civilian at Moirang
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 06 2024: After weaponised drones, Kuki terrorists are now using short range rockets to strike Meitei civilian targets.

One such short range rocket fired by Kuki terrorists struck the residence of former Chief Minister late Mairembam Koireng at Moirang today.

One civilian was killed in the attack, five others sustained injuries while another one fainted.

The rocket suspected to have been fired from either Bunglon or Khoirentak Kuki village struck the residence of former Chief Minister late Mairembam Koireng at Moirang Mairembam Leikai, Sendra Road near Thanga auto parking at around 3.15 pm while the family members were busy preparing for Ashti ceremony of Mairembam Koireng's daughter-in-law Ibeyaima which falls on September 8 .

After bomb fitted drone attack at Koutruk, rocket attack kills another civilian at Moirang

Notably, both Bunglon and Khoirentak Kuki village are around 4 Kms away from Moirang in aerial distance and 6 Kms on land route.

All of a sudden, they heard the sound of a rocket landing at their courtyard next to a statue of Mairembam Koireng which was followed by a loud and powerful blast.

The blast killed one RK Rabei of Moirang Phiwangbam Leikai on the spot while five others sustained injuries.

He was hit by splinters on the head and killed on the spot.

RK Rabei was an Arangpham by profession and he came to the family of late Mairembam Koireng to prepare for the Ashti ceremony.

The blast was so powerful that Koireng's statue, a compound wall and other household properties were damaged by its impact.

The injured victims were evacuated and taken to RIMS.

The injured victims have been identified as Salam Nanao of Moirang Sendra Road (injury on head), Selena Mairembam (13) of Mairembam Leikai Sendra Road (injury on right shoulder), Mairembam Rajiv alias Bobo of Mairembam Leikai Sendra Road, Konjengbam Jugindro of Moirang Okshongbung Leikai (injury on leg) and Ngangom Ibobi (65) of Moirang Okshongbung Leikai (injury on leg) .

Mairembam (ongbi) Sangita fainted.

Speaking to media persons at RIMS Casualty Ward, a great grandson of late Mairembam Koireng said that Moirang is not close to any Kuki village but it is no longer safe as Kuki terrorists are now in possession of rockets.

He urged the Government to take up concrete actions and neutralise the Kuki terrorists at the earliest.

Conditions of all the injured victims are said to be stable.

Notably, a young woman was killed and many including the woman's minor daughter were wounded when Kuki terrorists bombed civilians and security forces using high-tech drones at Koutruk on September 1 .

On learning about the rocket attack and the resulting casualties, CAD&PD Minister L Susindro, Moirang MLA Th Shanti and some high ranking police officers came and made spot enquiry.

But they were met with people's fury and resentment.

The local people decried that the situation aggravated to the present stage because of the Government's inaction despite repeated attacks by Kuki terrorists.

Pointing out that Ministers and Government officials came only to show solidarity to bereaved families after their dear and near ones have been killed by Kuki terrorists, the local people said that they were fed up with such shows of solidarity and turned away Minister L Susindro and his team.

After inspection by a team of forensic science experts, a portion of the rocket which got buried on the soil was retrieved.

The portion which got buried in the soil and later retrieved was around five feet long.

As the dead body of RK Rabei was taken to hospital for post mortem in an ambulance at around 4.40 pm, Meira Paibis blocked the ambulance at Moirang Lamkhai.

The Meira Paibis contended that the dead body should not be taken to hospital until and unless the Government drives away all the Kuki terrorists.

"Chief Minister N Biren must come and collect the dead body.

If he does not come, the corpse would be gifted to him," the Meira Paibis asserted.

Earlier in the day at around 4.30 am, Kuki terrorists shelled Tronglaobi village, Bishnupur district under Moirang police station.

The bomb landed and exploded inside a toilet.

Apart from completely destroying the toilet, a part of the bomb pierced through the tin wall of a mandop located around 50 metres away.

Luckily, a man who was supposed to use the toilet came out of the toilet in the nick of time to take Khaini which he had left somewhere else.

Thus he escaped the bomb attack.

Soon after the bomb explosion, Kuki terrorists opened a barrage of fire from Leikap, Moulsang, Moulngat and Moulphei.

Central forces deployed in the nearby areas fired back resulting in an exchange of fire which lasted for around five minutes.

Later at around 8 am, when a combined team of State forces and Central forces led by Bishnupur SP Ksh Ravikumar moved in to carry out search operations at Leikap, Moulsang and adjoining areas, they were met with gunfire.

CRPF troops stationed at Gelmol returned the fire.

A little past noon, a gun fight took place between Kuki terrorists and village volunteers in between Gelmol and Maulsang village.