3 Kuki militants killed in Thawai village gunfight
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 18 2023: At least three Kuki militants were killed in an encounter with unidentified armed persons this morning at Thawai Kuki village, Kamjong district under Litan police station.

A gunfight took place between suspected Kuki militants and unidentified armed persons at Thawai Kuki village, located some 32 Kms away from Imphal, along Imphal-Ukhrul Road at around 4.50 am today, sources said.

Sounds of heavy gunfight were heard for some minutes in the hill range toward Thawai village.

3 Kuki militants killed in Thawai village gunfight

After the gunfight, dead bodies of three suspected Kuki militants were found lying in a pool of blood near a bunker built at the village.

Later, a team of Litan police station, Assam Rifles and personnel of BSF posted at Litan rushed to the village and picked up and deposited the dead bodies at Ukhrul district hospital for post mortem.

The deceased militants have been identified as Jamkhogin Haokip (26) s/o Doukholun Haokip, Thangkhokai Haokip (35) s/o Doulet Haokip and Hollenson Baite (24) s/o Lhunkhothang Baite, all from Thawai village.

The combined team also carried out a massive search operation in suspected areas to nab those involved in the gunfight, added the sources.

Our Ukhrul Correspondent adds: At Ukhrul district hospital, one of the aggrieved brothers of the deceased persons, Lien said that the exchange of fire lasted for around half an hour.

He said that all the slain men bore bullet wounds while the head of Jamkhogin Haokip was found smashed.

The unidentified armed persons also took away two SBBL rifles (licensed guns) from the possession of the three slain men.

Ukhrul police led by SP Ningshem Vashum rushed to Thawai Kuki village and interacted with the families of the slain men and the villagers.

Later, the bodies of the three slain men were retrieved from Ukhrul district hospital and taken to Thawai village after completion of necessary medical procedures at the hospital.

On the other hand, KSO Ukhrul district joint secretary Mercy Khongsai said that the Kuki people of Litan area would hold a meeting in view of the unfolding situation.

Relocation of security forces, particularly Assam Rifles from Litan COB and New Canaan COB was unfortunate for the villagers of the area, Mercy said.

It is a wake up call for the people of Litan area that the area is no longer safe and secure for them, she added.