Four civilians feared killed; Amit Shah arrives
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 29 2023: Four civilians who suf fered bullet injuries in firing by Kuki militants are feared killed as encounter between a joint team of state forces and BSF on one side and Kuki militants on the other side continued for the second day on Monday in Sugnu area in Kakching district.

Heavy exchange of firing was reported at Sugnu Nazareth, con-sidered a stronghold of Kuki mili-tants, till late Monday evening due to which security forces are yet to retrieve the bodies.

Kuki militants are also reportedly using snip-er rifles and other sophisticated weapons in the gun-fight thereby foiling security forces attempt to flush out the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, charred body of an aged woman was found in one of houses burnt by Kuki militants in the hours on Sunday at Serou Awang Leikai while bullet rid-dled bodies of two civilians were also recovered from Serou Mayai Leikai and Serou Part 2 on Monday.

The woman has been identified as Sorokhaibam Ibetombi, 80 wife of late Churachand, a freedom fighter.

The body recovered from Serou Mayai Leikai has been identified as that of Rangde Poudel, 58 son of late Sanman Poudel.

The male body recovered from Serou Part 2 is yet to be identilled but was clad in a 'Lungi' (wraparound).

He too had bullet marks.

Interestingly, one AK rifle was found at the spot where the body was found.

The bodies were found when security forces searched the hous-es torched by Kuki militants.

Meanwhile, Mayengbam Keron-dt, 36 of Pangaltabi who was in-jured in firing by Kuki militants and had been undergoing treat-ment at Raj Medicity, North AOC succumbed to injuries on Monday.

On the other hand, around 2,000 Serou locals who took shelter at the residence of Sugnu MLA K Ranjit at Serou after Kuki militants torched several houses have been shifted to a safe location by a combined team of Kakching district police commando, Assam Rifles and BSF.

Altogether 328 Kuki villagers, who were trapped in Sugnu, too have been evacuated to Sajik Tampak.

Amid the violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived here on Monday night on a four -day visit during which he will hold several rounds of security meet-ings to assess the situation and plan steps to restore normalcy.

This is Amit Shah's first visit to the state since the ethnic clashes broke out on May 3.Amit Shah landed at Imphal Airport at 9:20 pm on Monday and was received by CM N Biren Singh, Union minister of state for home Nityainand Rai, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, and cabinet ministers, Th Biswajit Singh, Y Khemchand Singh, Govindas Konthoujam,111 Basanta Singh, BJP state president A Sharda Devi, chief secretary Vineet Joshi and security advisor Kuldiep Singh and DGP Manipur.

The Union home minister proceeded to the office of CM and held a closed-door meeting with the CM, Union MoS for home, council of ministers, Sambit Patra, secretary (home) Ajay Kumar Bhaila, Director of Intelligence Bureau (DIB) Tapan Kumar Deka, and Manipur Chief Secretary and security advisor.

After detailed discussions from 9:40 pm to 10:45 pm, the meeting resolved to restore normalcy and bring peace to the state at the earliest; take necessary action to improve the law-and-order situation and build confidence among the public; expedite relief measures and make essential items like petrol, LPG gas, rice and other daily requirements available to the common people; compensation to the tune of Rs 10 lakh (Rs 5 lakh to be borne by the state and Rs 5 lakh as Central share) to the deceased persons and provision of one job to the family of the deceased persons; Telephone lines with the help of BSNL will be installed to dispel rumours.

The home minister will be in the state till June 1 .

According to sources, Amit Shah will hold several rounds of security meetings to assess the situation and plan further steps to restore normalcy.

He is also expected to meet representatives from the civil society and various groups of the Meitei and the Kuki communities.

Addressing a programme in Assam recently, Shah said he wouldsoon go to Manipur.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had said during a press conference in Imphal that Shah is scheduled to visit Manipur on May 29 to resolve the ongoing crisis.

The ethnic clashes that have claimed more than 75 lives in Manipur broke out after a "Tribal Solidarity March" was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said nearly 40 armed terrorists involved in torching houses and firing at civilians have been killed by security forces since an operation was launched to restore peace in the north-eastern state.

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