Kuki militants continue attacks in peripheral areas
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kakching/Imphal, July 19 2023:
Kuki militants continued to attack security forces in various parts of the valley area amid the existing communal tension in the state.
According to a report, after incidents of gunfights in Awang Leikinthabi area under Sekmai PS of Imphal West district ceased for the past two days, Kuki militants, suspected to be from the designated camp at Chingsat and those staying in Palsoi village near Luwangsangol area fired several rounds and bombs at the village volunteers staying atop Awang Leikinthabi Nongpok Ningthou Ching.
The volunteers also retaliated with several rounds.
Although state forces entered the area, the firirig continued till early Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, Kuki militants attacked BSF personnel and Manipur police commandos, who had set up bunkers at the boundary of nearby Meitei village in Tangjeng, Khoiju-mantabi and Chairen Mangjil of Bishnupur district around 8pm Tuesday.
Security forces also retaliated with fire, with the BSF personnel even utilising MMG.
The gunfight continued till 4am Wednesday.
However, there were no reports of any casualties on either side.
On the other hand, while security forces were removing bunkers as part of the government's orders, Kuki militants fired several rounds at Tangjeng Khunjao village on Tuesday night, forcing the villagers to flee for safer locations.
The militants, armed with sophisticated weapons, launched the attack around 8.30pm Tuesday from Leishan Tampak in Churachan dpur district towards the village located adjacent to Napat and Tangjeng Ahal lup of Kumbi AC, which had been burned down by Kuki militants previously.
Although there were no reports of any injuries, many of the villages bore bullet holes.
According to a Meira Paibi leader named Urirei, many drones were seen circling overhead prior to Tuesday's attack.
The Kuki militants attacked the area despite the heavy presence of central paramilitary forces and 1IRB personnel in the area.
Thus, she urged the government to take up steps to prevent similar attacks in the future.