2 village volunteers hurt as Kuki militants launch heavy attack
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2023: Two village volunteers sustained splinter and bullet injuries in a fierce attack by Kuki militants while as many as nine Meira Paibis suffered injuries of varying degrees as they were lathi-charged by army and paramilitary forces in Yaingangpokpi and Seijang area, Imphal East this afternoon.

Kuki militants have been attacking Meitei villages located in the periphery of Lamlai Assembly Constituency and Saikul Assembly Constituency since the last couple of weeks.

Even though Meitei families of these villages stay at their homes during daytime, women and children have been taking refuge at safer places during night in view of the sporadic firing by Kuki militants.

2 village volunteers hurt as Kuki militants launch heavy attack

Two days back, Kuki militants attacked Sabung-khok Khunou, Yaingangpokpi Shantikhongbal, Thamnapokpi, Sanasabi and other adjoining Meitei villages by firing innumerable rounds from multiple directions.

They intensified their attack early this morning using bombs and sophisticated weapons.

At around 3.10 am, Kuki militants from Twichin Kuki village and Monomphai village came up to a brick-field located in between Sabungkhok Khunou and Twichin Kuki village and opened indiscriminate fire toward Sabungkhok Khunou.

State security personnel, BSF and village volunteers who are stationed in the area in view of the present unrest in the State retaliated.

Notwithstanding the presence of Central security forces in the area, Kuki militants continued firing toward the Meitei village till 9 am although there was a gap for a few minutes.

The Kuki militants ceased firing at around 9 am only to resume it with more intensity at around 1 pm.

In their bid to push back the Kuki militants, the village volunteers and security forces fired several rounds of bullets in retaliation.

During the gunfight, one village volunteer sustained a splinter injury on his right buttock.

He is presently undergoing treatment at Raj Medicity and his condition is said to be stable.

Another village volunteer also sustained bullet injury on his lower chin.

He has been admitted to Little Clinic for treatment.

An ambulance which rushed in to evacuate the injured village volunteers was stopped by the army at Sabungkhok Khunou.

Immediately, the local Meira Paibis intervened and urged the army troops to give passage to the ambulance.

Although there was a brief stand-off, the army troops finally allowed the ambulance to move ahead and evacuate the injured victims.

However, the army personnel snatched the mobile phone of a reporter from Impact TV News who was covering the incident.

They gave back the mobile phone after deleting all the photographs of the stand-off.

Meanwhile, heated arguments broke out between army, paramilitary forces and Meira Paibis who were on the road at Yaingang-pokpi, Sabung-khok, Sabungkhok Khunou and Seijang village.

To disperse the Meira Paibis who were on the road, army and paramilitary forces first used smoke bombs and stun grenades and but later the army and paramilitary forces lathi-charged the womenfolk, inflicting injuries to as many as nine Meira Paibis.

They were evacuated to CHC Sawombung and Raj Medicity for treatment.

Out of the nine Meira Paibis, four admitted to Raj Medicity have been identified as Nepram Thabatombi (48) of Nongada Shantipur, Taorem Meme (41), Nameirakpam Nanao (46) and Pebam Basanti (45), all from Seijang Awang Leikai .

The situation is still very tense in the area.

DIG Range-I N Herojit and other senior officers of Imphal East District Police and commando personnel are presently stationed in the area.

On the other hand, according to an unconfirmed report, five weapons were reportedly seized by paramilitary forces from village volunteers.