Girl injured in Kuki militants' attack
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 08 2023:
A 15 year old girl was hit by a bullet on the left leg when Kuki militants attacked Koutruk in Imphal West today.
Security forces and village volunteers too fired back, resulting in a gun battle.
The girl who was hit by a bullet above the left ankle has been identified as Ningthoujam Jeena (15) d/o N Bokul of Koutruk Mayai Leikai.
She was rushed to Shija Hospitals and Research Institute.
It is said that she is out of danger.
One family member of Jeena said that the girl was reading on her bed when several rounds of gunshots were heard at around 11.30 am.
In the next moment, a bullet which pierced through their tin roof hit her on the left ankle and exited through.
Reporters saw four bullet holes on the walls and tin roof of Jeena's house.
One village volunteer told The Sangai Express that Kuki militants attacked Koutruk from three directions.
A few minutes before the attack, one drone camera was seen flying in very high altitude, purportedly monitoring Koutruk and adjoining Meitei villages.
At around 11.30 am, Kuki militants opened heavy fire from Bethel village of Haraothel hill range and the hill located to the western side of Koutruk, said the village volunteer.
In response, BSF troops and 9th IRB personnel stationed in the area fired back to repulse the attack.
Village volunteers too joined the retaliatory firing.
The two sides were engaged in a heavy exchange of fire which lasted for around 45 minutes.
Frightened by the gunfight, children and womenfolk of Koutruk left their house and took refuge in nearby safer areas.
One woman strongly condemned the Kuki militants' attack which inflicted bullet injury to a young girl.
People of Koutruk will never have peace until and unless Kuki militants can be stopped from firing toward Koutruk village from Haraothel hill range where they have built bunkers.
She urged both the Central Government and the State Government to contain the marauding Kuki militants at the earliest.