11 hurt in coordinated attacks at different places by Kuki militants
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Bishnupur, November 07 2023: At least 11 individuals including two police personnel and a Meira Paibi activist sustained injuries in coordinated attacks by heavily armed kuki militants upon Meitei villages at different places today.

A large number of people gathered near the Singda VDF post at around 11 am after getting information about the presence of some Kukis in the nearby area.

Suddenly Kuki militants launched a fierce attack using sophisticated weapons from Kangchup hill range, injuring 9 individuals, sources informed.

The injured individuals were evacuated from the site using police vehicles and ambulances for treatment at Raj Medicity and RIMS Hospital.

11 hurt in coordinated attacks at different places by Kuki militants

Not long after the Kuki militants started firing, village volunteers and State security personnel retaliated resulting in exchange of firing at Kangchup Chingkhong and Kadangband area which lasted for more than 30 minutes.

The exchange of firing went on till late afternoon with brief gaps in between.

Many vehicles of State police were also damaged in the attack by Kuki militants.

Police reinforcements also rushed to the spot and carried out a massive search operation in the area to bring the situation under control.

It is suspected that there might be some injuries and casualties on the side of Kuki militants during the gun fight.

At the same time, Kuki militants also fired several rounds of bullets toward Koutruk and Senjam Chirang village from nearby Kuki villages located in the adjoining hill but there was no report of any casualty.

Village volunteers also retaliated by firing bullets toward the Kuki militants.

The exchange of firing in the area lasted for some minutes.

The injured persons who are undergoing treatment at RIMS Hospital are identified as VDF personnel Mutum Basanta (35) s/o Kesho of Mayang Langjing Sorok Mapal (bullet injury on his left knee), security escort of DIG Range 1, Naorem Kishan s/o Tiken (injury on left shoulder and backside), Meira Paibi activist Laichombam Ibemcha (39) of Kangchup Chingkhong (bullet injury on back side) and the others sustained bullet injuries on chest, right thigh and right leg.

Two of them are stated to be in serious condition and taken inside the operation theatres for operation to remove the bullets, Three other injured persons presently undergoing treatment at Raj Medicity are stated to be stable and they sustained injuries on their leg.

On the other hand, a large number of people came out on Uripok-Kangchup road and diverted the traffic to alternate routes to give free passage to ambulances and other vehicles carrying injured persons for treatment to hospitals.

In another gun attack by Kuki militants at Maphou Dam area this morning, two village volunteers sustained injuries.

The incident took place in the periphery of Maphou Dam and Imphal East district at around 8.30 am when all of a sudden well armed Kuki militants opened indiscriminate fire from Maphou Kuki village toward Tumukhong Meitei village, located downstream of Maphou Dam.

During the attack, two village volunteers reportedly sustained bullet injuries and they were evacuated to a nearby hospital.

It is said that at least three Kuki militants might have suffered casualties in retaliatory fire by village defence volunteers.

On receiving information about the attack, Imphal East commandos and Central armed police force rushed to the spot which resulted in another exchange of firing that lasted for around 30 minutes.

Reinforcement from police and Central armed police force too rushed to the spot to flush out Kuki militants, said the sources .

Meanwhile, a group of farmers who were harvesting paddy at Kila Loukol, Irengbam, Bishnupur district under Nambol police station came under attack from Kuki militants at around 12.30 pm today.

The Kuki militants opened several rounds of fire from Tingkai Khunou (Aijang Kuki village) .

As State forces and Gorkha Regiment personnel stationed in the area fired back, a gunfight ensued between the two sides.

On hearing about the attack on farmers, additional forces including IRB, CRPF, army and police led by Bishnupur SP K Meghachandra, Additional SP (Ops) M Amarjit and Additional SP (Law & Order) Satyam Takhellambam rushed to the spot and joined the gun battle.

Altogether 45 people including women who were working in Emounu Brick Firm, close to the frontline were safely evacuated by Bishnupur police and Gorkha Regiment using bullet-proof vehicles.

There was no report of any casualty in the gun battle.

Soon after the exchange of firing ceased, security forces carried out search operations in and around the area from where the Kuki militants fired at farmers.

But no one was arrested.

One farmer said that they went to harvest paddy today after giving prior information to both police and army but they came under attack from Kuki militants not long after they started their work.

The Kuki militants fired around 50/60 rounds before they retreated.

Pointing out that Kuki militants dared to attack farmers even in the presence of police and army, the farmer asked how they could harvest paddy, the fruit of a year's hard labour, under such circumstances.

The situation is tense in all the areas where Kuki militants launched fresh and coordinated attacks upon Meitei villages.

As such, State forces and Central paramilitary forces have taken up extra security measures at these places, said sources.

Fierce gun battles ensued between security forces and Kuki militants at other places too.

Kui militants opened fire indiscriminately towards Irengbam and Leimaram Makha Leikai area from Aigejang (Tingkai Khunou) under Saitu Gamphazol in the afternoon and in the evening.

While reporters were unable to reach the spot, reliable sources said security forces including Bishnupur district commandos were involved in the gunfight and they have taken control of several strongholds of the militants.

The sources said there may have been some casualties on the side of the Kuki militants.

The Sangai Express couldn't independently verify the claim.

On the other hand, armed Kuki men and militants launched attacks on Koutruk and several adjoining areas at noon today.

The armed militants fired sophisticated weapons including explosives.

Meitei locals have fled their homes, said reports.

The armed militants started firing raining bullets at around 12.35 pm, said a villager who was on vigil at Koutruk area.

The militants fired some rounds of bombs from Haoraothel side.

The bombs fell and exploded in uninhabited places and as such there was no injury, he said.

IRB personnel stationed in Koutruk village returned fire for around 10 minutes after which the gunfight paused for some hours.

The Kuki militants resumed firing again at around 4.30 pm towards Koutruk's still inhabited parts.

The gunfight ensued till 6.30 pm.

Villagers have fled to nearby safe places and reinforcement of State police, commandos and security forces have reached the village, the villager said.

Meanwhile the Meira Paibis of the area have vehemently condemned the Kuki militants attacking civilian settlement.

They have urged the Government to contain the firing and provide adequate security to harvest paddy crops.