Kuki ultras continue to bombard Itham Moirangpurel
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 12 2024: Kuki militants continued to bombard Itham Moirangpurel Meitei village from two sides today morning.

Heavily armed Kuki militants began attacking the village at around 9.15 am from Itham Moirangpurel Mamang Kamu Hill range.

In retaliation, village volunteers fired several rounds of bullets toward the Kuki militants who were advancing from the hill range toward Itham Moirangpurel.

Soon after, Imphal East commandos rushed to the spot and took measures to bring the situation under control.

The intermittent exchange of fire lasted for more than an hour.

No one was injured in the exchange of fire.

As news of the gunfight broke out, a large number of womenfolk came out on the Lamlai to Itham Moirangpurel road in protest and prevented Central security personnel, who they claimed were partisan, from reaching the incident site.

The womenfolk accused the Central security forces of doing nothing to stop Kuki militants from attacking Meitei villages and attempting to arrest only Meitei village volunteers who were defending the public and their properties.

The commotion between the womenfolk and the Central security personnel of Bihar Regiment turned tense when the latter detained some village volunteers at around 11 am.

After heated arguments and scuffles broke out, the womenfolk secured the volunteers from the custody of the Bihar Regiment at around 1 pm.

The womenfolk continued to protest and demanded withdrawal of the Bihar Regiment deployed on the western side of Itham Moirangpurel.

The situation in Itham Moirangpurel area was tense till late in the evening with village volunteers remaining on high alert to counter further attacks from Kuki militants, said sources.

Kuki militants have launched fresh attacks at several places across the districts in the valley after Jiribam.

Violence broke out in Jiribam district after suspected Kuki militants killed a Meitei man, Soibam Sarat, on June 6 .

Kuki militants have burnt down more than 70 Meitei houses in Jiribam, and more than 600 people from the district have been displaced so far.

Yesterday, Kuki militants attacked Koutruk and Senjam Chirang under Lamshang police station.

Meanwhile, after the gunfight at Itham Moirangpurel, womenfolk congregated at Yairipok Tampha Keithel and New Market, and all shops and vendors downed shutters.

In the afternoon, large numbers of womenfolk thronged Yairipok Kasom Khullen road and blocked 2 trucks, reportedly of Assam Rifles, from crossing Yairipok bridge.

The two trucks belonging to the Andro Assam Rifles post were ferrying water to Somrei AR post.

The trucks eventually proceeded towards Somrei on an alternative route via Thoubal.

At around 3.50 pm, three vehicles of the Somrei AR travelling from Thoubal side were blocked by the womenfolk at Yairipok Bishnunaha Pukhri Achouba.

Police teams led by SDPO Yairipok Md Riyaz Shah and Yairipok police station OC Suresh rushed to the spot and pacified the womenfolk.

On checking, the trucks were found carrying ration for Somrei AR post, and allowed to proceed.

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