AR troopers injured in gunfight in Ccpur district
Cadres, arms found missing in two Kuki UG camps during inspection: Kuldiep
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 13 2023: A trooper of 9 As-sam Rifles was injured after suspected Kuki militants under SoO fired on an AR team in Saiton area under Churachandpur district on Saturday afternoon.

According to a report, some armed militants set fire to a cattle farm at Chengningkot in Saiton area on Saturday morning.

On receiving report of the ar-son, a team of 9 AR rushed to the location and tried to put out the flames and also chased the militants.

How-ever, the militants fired at the AR team, striking one of the personnel on his leg.

After receiving news of the incident, additional AR teams arrived at the loca-tion and carried out a search operation of the area.

How-ever, there were no reports of any arrests.

According to our Chura-chandpur correspondent, at least two personnel of the Assam Rifles suffered bullet injuries when members of village defence force fired on an AR team moving to-wards Lailampat village in the district.

The incident happened at about 1pm Saturday when an AR troops moved to-wards Lailampat, Kulbung and Changpiangkot villages in Churachandpur district for area dominance.

Citing local sources, our correspondent said the vil-lage defence force of the three villages fired towards the AR trooper moving on wrong route with some in plain cloth and without giv-ing prior information.

In the cross-fire, two AR personnel were injured.

The source fur-ther informed that AR troop had admitted their fault for crossing into wrong route.

Meanwhile, state's secu-rity advisor Kuldiep Singh said that inspection drive carried out by security forces in the designated camps of Kuki UG groups under Suspension of Op-eration (500) agreement found several numbers of missing cadres, arms and ammunition.

Addressing a press con-ference in the CM's sec-retariat here on Friday, Kuldiep informed that the inspection exercise was car-ried out to ascertain reports of involvement of Kuki UG groups under SoO agree-ment in the violence in the state.

Maximum number of cadres along with arms and ammunition were found missing in at least two designated camps, he informed.

The death toll following the recent clashes in the state has gone up to 71 ac-cording to the security ad-visor, who further informed that three PWD labourers were also found dead in a vehicle in a 300 metre deep trench in Churachandpur area.

The exact cause behind the incident was yet to be ascertained, he added.

Kuldiep Singh further said that in another inci-dent in Torbung village at the border of Bishnupur and Churachandpur, where 11 people had gone to collect some items from their burnt house, came under attack by militants.

Eight of those, who were attacked managed to flee and reached the BSF camp while three are still missing, he stated.

"A mas-sive search operation was launched by Assam Rifles, BSF and CRPF was launched to find them but we are not able to find them yet," he said.

He also informed that search operation is on to find two missing persons from Khumbong but there is no luck till date.

He claimed that the sit-uation has improved in the state and curfew relaxation has also been extended to seven hours.

Considering the situation along NH 2 where mobs are blocking the highway preventing movement of trucks carry-ing essential commodities, the government is explor-ing possibilities of bringing back the stranded trucks through NH 37.Local lead-ers are also being reached out to ensure safe passage to the transporters, he added.

According Kuldiep Singh, there was an exchange of fire between Manipur police commandos and militants during which six personnel suffered injuries and one got killed.

Earlier, several locals went missing after being attacked by unidentified people while they had gone to collect some stuff from their burnt houses.

Kuldiep further said that in another incident at Torbung village in the border of Bishnupur and Churachandpur district, where 11 people had gone to collect some items from their burnt house, came under attack by militants.

Eight of those who were attacked managed to flee and reached the BSF camp while three are still missing, he stated.

"A massive search operation was launched by Assam Rifles, BSF and CRPF to trace them but we are not able to find them yet," the security advisor maintained while claiming that the situation has improved in the state due to which curfew relaxation has also been extended to seven hours.

"Displaced people living in different camps have been reduced to a bare minimum with about 45,000 people transported to different places.

There are no extra flights operating and no stranded passengers at the airport as well," Kuldiep said.

As per latest figures more than 230 were injured and close to 1700 houses burnt down during the violence in the state.

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