Kuki militants attack, woman killed in Saiton
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal/Bishnupur, November 09 2024: A young married woman, working in her paddy field, was killed in an attack by suspected Kuki militants at Saiton Wathalam under Phougakchao Ikhai Police Station, Bishnupur district at around 11 am Saturday.

The deceased woman has been identified as Sapam Ongbi Sophiya (29) d/o Dayananda of Saiton Gram Panchayat Ward No 6 .

She sustained gunshot wounds on her chest and abdomen, killing her instantly on the spot.

On receiving news that a woman had been killed in an attack by suspected Kuki militants, a large number of village volunteers and state forces immediately rushed to the scene and exchanged heavy fire with the militants.

According to the locals, the 16 Battalion BSF C Company is located closed to the incident site, and the 2 Mahar Regiment is also stationed atop the Haptak hill in the area.

The aggrieved locals claimed that the incident occurred in the presence of the central forces who just stood by and watched.

The locals retrieved Sophia's body and deposited it at the BSF post opened at Shantipur LP School in Shantipur.

The body was yet to be recovered from the BSF camp till the filing of this report.

Meanwhile, following the tragic incident, Kumbi MLA S Premchandra along with SP Ksh Ravikumar and other top police officials also arrived at the scene and took stock of the situation.

Meanwhile, Kuki militants resumed heavy attacks towards Sanasabi, Thamnapokpi and Santikhongbal Meetei villages under Yaingangpokpi police station on Saturday.

According to police, Kuki militants launched attack using bomb and bullets at Sanasabi, Thamnapokpi and Santikhongnal from around 10 pm on Saturday.

The attack came from Sangran and Thamnapokpi Uyok Ching.

Security forces retaliated against the firing, resulting in exchange of gunfire that continued till the time of filing this report.

However, there is no report of casualty in the firing, it added.

On the other hand, in a search operation at Changoubung village, located in the Kangpokpi district, security forces recovered several items, including one 5:56 mm INSAS rifle (without magazine), two country-made .22 pistols with magazines, two single-bore rifles, one locally made .303 rifle, and two hand grenades (which were defective) .

The search also led to the recovery of a Baofeng hand set with charger, an SLR magazine, and a total of 15 live .303 rounds, one live 7.62 mm round, as well as 25 empty 5.56 mm (INSAS) cases, seven empty single-bore cases, and 72 empty 7.62 mm cases.

In a separate operation in T Khonomphai village of Churachandpur district, security forces recovered a modified .303 rifle, two country-made 9mm pistols with magazines, six country-made single-barrelled shotguns (SBBL), one country-made .22 rifle, 47 live 5.56 mm INSAS rounds, and three live 7.62 mm AK rounds.

Meanwhile, in another search operation conducted in the Mongbung village, Balijuri, and Jarolpokpi areas of Jiribam district, the security forces recovered four bulletproof vests (BP vests) with two plates, one magazine pouch, six live SLR rounds, and five live single-barrel cartridges.

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