Shoot-out in Bishnupur, clashes in Imphal East
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 15 2023: At least one civilian was injured in a gunfight at Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai between suspected Kuki militants and village volunteers after the former launched an offensive from the nearby hills on Thursday.

Source said that the Kuki militants began their attack from around 3.30 pm to which the village volunteers retaliated with their license guns.

In the firing, a Meitei Pangal (Muslim) civilian of neighbouring Kwakta village was hit by a stray bullet and rushed to hospital.

Later, teams of Bishnupur police commando rushed there and both sides were engaged in the gunfight till the time of filing this report.

No report on further injuries or casualties on either side has been received.

Meanwhile, tension erupted in Imphal East district on Wednesday after three shops in Checkon area were set on fire.

As security forces fired several tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, many people including one RAF personnel suffered injuries during the chaos.

According to reports, around 12.30 pm Thursday, three shops in Checkon, belonging to a Kuki, were set on fire.

The area had been strictly guarded by central paramilitary forces on top of state forces.

After news of the arson spread, locals of Meitei Leikai located adjacent to Chekcon came out to the road and protested.

As the district police failed to control the crowd, RAF personnel came to the scene and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, injuring many including women.

On hearing news of the incident, a large number of people from Kongba Wangkhei, Nongmeibung, Porompat and Soibam Leikai trooped towards Konung Mamang.

Teams of RAF, army and state police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd heading in from Wangkhei at Andro Parking, from Nongmeibung at near Kusum Petrol Pump, and from Porompat and Soibam Leikai before Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy crossing.

The crowd also retaliated with slingshots and stone pelting.

During the chaos at Nongmeibung, one of the slingshots struck an RAF member on the head, who was immediately taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, amid the chaos at Andro parking, womenfolk of the area came out and talked to the army officers on duty to stop firing tear gas shells.

However, RAF personnel resumed firing tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse the protestors blocking the roads.

After driving away the crowd, the RAF personnel withdrew and converged at Konung Mamang traffic point.

On seeing the security forces retreating, a large number of youth appeared and started pelting stones and used slingshots at the forces.

The RAF again fired many tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and detained two of the protestors.

To prevent the RAF from using any excessive force upon the duo, a team of Imphal East district police led by its SP and Addl SP took custody of the two people immediately.

The district police also took custody of another person detained by the army in Kongba area.

The dispersed crowd later came out on Wangkhei Kongba, Nongmeibung, Porompat and Citizens' Club roads and continued to protest late into the night.

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