10-min Ops, active Kuki bunkers worry villagers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 22 2023: While casting aspersions on roles and response of central forces amid the series of armed attacks and acts of arson in the state, locals of Kanto Sabal said they feel unsafe as the security forces failed to dismantle all the bunkers of Kuki militants in the nearby hill areas.

Khurkhul GP ward no 8 member Laishram Khemashwari told The People's Chronicle that Kuki mili tants used search lights carried out armed attack to burn five houses including one belonging to Liangmai Naga at Leimakhong Chingmang village on June 19 night.

The militants also burned granary and farmhouses in the same incident.

On the next morning, central security forces carried out combing operation for only 10 minutes in the hilly parts of the village, which the local women confronted the security forces.

Instead of destroying the bunkers used by Kuki militants, security forces took over three of the bunkers at Ingourok Chingmang Maning while asking the Meetei villagers not to fire towards the bunkers while assuring their protection.

However, there are still several active bunkers of Kuki militants including those on the terrace of Vengnaum village Bible College, a vantage point for the Kuki militants, and adjacent to the kitchen block of Oxford Baby School's boarding.

Apart from the two, there are numerous bunkers used by Kuki militants including atop pucca buildings along the road to Ingourok Mahadev which the central forces are yet to remove.

Several Kuki militants are also staying amid civilians, mostly women and children in Dolenlai area, next to Ingourok Mahadev Temple, which they levelled the ground and set up some bunkers as well, she said.

Though the central security forces claimed of destroying some bunkers of Kukis, they refused to furnish evidence.

On the contrary, the central forces destroyed some bunkers of state forces and IRB constructed along the approach road to Kanto Sabal, the ward member maintained.

Khemashwari also observed said armed attacks on Meetei villages and acts of arson are carried out by the Kuki militants as and when central forces conduct patrolling.

Expressing apprehension over the response of cen tral security forces, the local women protested patrolling by the security forces not because they pose threat to the public but such exercises disturbingly coincide with armed attacks on Meetei villages.

While disclosing about security forces cautioning to resort to extreme action if their movement is obstructed, she affirmed that the womenfolk will continue the protest till the Kuki militants are neutralised or flushed out from the area.

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