Farmer, CDO, teen injured in Kuki attacks
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 08 2023: At least three persons, includ-ing a middle age farmer, a Meitei Pan-gal teenager and a police commando, suffered injuries in different instances of firing attacks by Kuki militants in Bishnupurdistrict in the last 24 hours.

The injured farmer has been iden-tified as Yumnam Ranjan (42) son of late Ka oba of Phubala Ward No 2.He was shot at by Kuki militants from the nearby hills when he was working in his field on the western side of high canal in Phubala Maning Langoltaobt Loukol.

He suffered gunshot wound on his left buttock after which he was evacuated to Bishnupur district hospital and later referred to Raj Medicity, Imphal.

Locals said that personnel of Sikh Regiment and BSF, de-ployed in Sunusiphai Maning area to prevent escalation of violence were close to the attack site.

Miffed over their inaction, the locals stormed towards the troops of Sikh Regiment but state security forces controlled the mob and dispersed them.

Some of the farmers in the nearby fields at the time of the attack, told The People's Chronicle that they were working in their fields as it is seed sowing season.

Despite the persistent violence, they have limited season for agri-cultural works and they had to work in their fields to ensure their food security.

Around 30 farmers were there in the fields since early morning.

At about 8.30 am, around 10 well-armed Kuki militants came down from the near the reserved forest area located in the western side of Phubala.

They fired several shots to-wards the farmers and hurried away into the forest.

The farm-ers had to duck in the field to avoid getting hit by the bullets but Ranjan was hit by one of the bullets.

There were several person-nel of Sikh Regiment and BSF in the nearby area of Sunusi-phai but they did not fire a single shot towards the Kuki militants, who attacked the unarmed farmers working in their fields, they said.

Earli-er on June 29, some farmers went to the nearby foothills to release irrigation water from Singeirok stream.

They were also attacked by Kuki militants.

Consequent to the incident, the farmers raised the issue with works minister Govindas Konthoujam, who is also the local MLA, after which, some BSF personnel were deployed in the area.

Despite having BSF personnel, the Kuki militants also fired towards the farmers on July 2, the farmers added.

Unfortunately, the BSF per-sonnel restricted them from going to their fields from the next day instead of providing security.

However, the farm-ers decided to carry out their work in their fields except those close to the reserved forest.

The farmers strongly condemned the government's failure to control the violence and protect the farmers.

They also decried the inaction of central security forces even when the Kuki militants launched attack on them.

On the other hand, an 18-year old Meitei Pangal of Kwakta Ward No 8 sustained injuries in attack by Kuki militants, who fired mortars from the foothills of Thangjing hill.

The injured teen has been identified as Md Warish son of Ayub Khan, who was hit by splinters, when the mor-tar shell landed at his house around 9 am.

He was rushed to Bishnupur district hospital.

According to local sourc-es, most villagers of Kwakta Maning had fled to safer lo-cations as they feared attacks by Kuki militants.

On Saturday morning, Warish went to his abandoned house to collect few items and prepared lunch for himself but got hit in the mortar shelling.

Earlier, around 5 am, a Bishnupur district police commandos namely K Ra - meshwar (42) son of Nongyai of Yairipok Poiroukhongjin, who was deployed in Phou-gakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai, got injured in an armed attack by Kuki militants.

He suffered gunshot wound on his left heel and was evacuated to Raj Medicity.

Consequent to the Incident, a joint team of Bish-nupur police, Churachandpur police and central security forces carried out search op-eration in Phougakchao Ikhai and Kwakta area from 12.30 pm to 3 pm.

However, there is no report of any incident or arrest.

Later, intermittent gunfights between the secu-rity forces and Kuki militants continued till late evening in Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai area.

Meanwhile, state honour was accorded to Bishnupur CDO jawan P Ranbir of Moi-rang Lamkhai, who lost his life after getting by a bullet on his head during a gunfight with Kuki militants in Kwakta area on Friday.

His body was received by his family mem-ben and local residents from RIMS morgue and was taken to 1st MR, where state honour was accorded to him.

From there, his mortal remains were taken to his home village along Tiddim road and the last rite performed there.

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