Heavy fighting rocks Moreh for over 5 hrs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 08 2024:
Heavy fighting between Kuki militants and State security forces rocked the border town of Moreh for over five hours today.
State Police and Special Commando personnel were on routine foot-patrolling duty at Moreh Ward Number 7, Canan Veng when heavily armed Kuki militants attacked the security personnel using sophisticated weapons and bombs at around 8.45 am.
Soon after launching a fierce attack on State security personnel at Canan Veng, Kuki militants launched more attacks on security personnel at two other locations viz; Moreh Ward Number 8 or New Moreh and Moreh Ward Number 9 near Elora Hotel.
Security personnel also retaliated resulting in heavy exchange of firing between the two sides, sources informed.
|
Troops of Assam Rifles also fired around 20 rounds of 81 mm mortar shells toward the Kuki militants who were attacking the State security personnel.
The heavy gunfight between the security personnel and Kuki militants lasted for around 5 hours till 2 pm with regular intervals of some minutes in between.
Although there is no report of any injuries on the side of the security personnel, it is suspected that there might be some casualties on the side of Kuki militants.
Brigadier of 26 Sector Assam Rifles and DIG Range II of Manipur Police are present at Moreh and monitoring the situation in the border town since the last few days.
Sources also said that heavy security measures have been put in place with security personnel kept on high alert in all vulnerable areas of Moreh.
In view of the relentless offensive launched by Kuki militants against the State, Central armed police and paramilitary forces might launch arms operation in the area to flush out Kuki militants from the border town of Moreh.
Our Kangpokpi Correspondent adds: CoTU has urged the Central Government to instruct the State Government to remove police commandos from Moreh.
CoTU media cell coordinator Ng Lun Kipgen said that they would be waiting for the Central Government's direction to the State.
If there is no swift action, CoTU and sister organisations would be constrained to picket State Government offices located in Kangpokpi district and other Kuki-Zo dominated areas.
For any untoward incidents arising out of it, Chief Minister N Biren Singh will be solely held responsible.