Kuki militants attack, torch villages
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 22 2023:
In a renewed act of aggression, Kuki militants launched attacks on Koutruk village from late Friday night till Saturday morning, ending the eight-day lull since their last assault on July 12 .
The residents of Koutruk village were outraged by the latest offensive and reasserted their demand for the deploying permanent MR/IRB posts in the foothill areas of Lamsang and Sekmai assembly constituencies.
Additionally, they called on the government to remove the Kuki bunkers situated in the nearby hills before 4 pm of Sunday and warned that failure to comply with their demands would compel blocking of the water pipeline
da-Kangchup.
A memorandum outlining these demands would be submitted to Chief Minister N Biren on Sunday.
The latest attack, as reported by Lairenkabi Kadangband GP's former pradhan, Nunglepam Bobby, began at 10.15 pm on Friday from three directions: the Sports Complex at Koutruk, Bethel, and the hillside of Kout-ruk-Kadangband.
The attack left multiple bullet holes on several houses and community halls in Koutruk village.
Fortunately, there were no injuries, as personnel from the 9IRB and 7 MR swiftly engaged the militants in retaliatory firing, and later joined by Imphal West CDO, and Lamsang PS teams.
This incident marks the seventh attack by Kuki militants on the village, with previous assaults occurring on June 2, June 3, June 24, July 7, July 11, and July 12.In response to the ongoing threat, the local residents of Lamsang and Sekmai assembly constituencies convened a public meeting at Koutruk community hall and held a sit-in protest, condemning the persistent attacks by Kuki militants.
The villagers had set up bunkers to defend against the Kuki attackers, but the government recently dismantled these fortifications, raising questions from the villagers about the selective action taken by authorities by leaving intact the Kuki bunkers.
Bobby expressed disappointment, as the villagers had previously received assurances from the 22 Assam Rifles regarding their safety and the prevention of further attacks from Kuki militants.
However, the latest incident has once again instilled a sense of insecurity among the villagers.
He questioned the government's rationale for dismantling Meetei bunkers while leaving the Kuki bunkers intact.
Meanwhile, at least three houses of the Meetei community along with a school were burned down by Kuki militants leading to shootout between Kuki militants and BSF at Tor-bung in Churachandpur district
oh Saturday night.
The incident occurred first at Phougakchao Ikhai on Saturday evening when some well-armed Kuki militants sneaked into the Meetei village and attacked the village volunteers on guard.
The Meetei village volunteers also retaliated after which, the militants fled the scene.
On the way back, the Kuki militants burned an abandoned house of a Meetei family in Tor-bung Mamang Leikai and left.
As the house was engulfed in flames, the fire spread to an adjacent school, which is said to be owned by a Kuki.
BSF troopers deployed in the vicinity rushed there in a bid to put off the fire.
However, they were attacked by Kuki militants, who were hiding in the nearby area.
Both sides engaged in a shootout till late night.
After a brief-lull, the Kuki militants burned another two Meetei houses in the area.
The situation caught attention of 9 Assam Rifles personnel deployed at Kangvai Bazar, who went in to intervene.
The AR team warned the Kuki militants from continuing their arson activities and attack on security forces.
The intervention from Assam Rifles upset the Kuki militants, resulting in a brief stand-off before finally withdrawing from the area.
Meanwhile, local residents informed that the Kuki militants were moving freely with sophisticated arms despite existence of a CRPF unit.