Three injured, houses torched by Kuki militants
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 03 2023:
At-least three persons suffered bullet injuries while-some farm houses were torched in attacks by suspected Kuki militants at different locations in the past 24 hours.
Kuki militants resorted to unprovoked firing on at least three Meetei villages including at Khoiju mantabi where three village volunteers were killed on Sunday.
As per reports, Kuki militants fired towards Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai at about 11pm Sunday and one person was injured in the firing from Pholjang village of Churacnandpur district.
BSF post at Kwakta and state force deployed at Phougakchao Ikhai retaliated the fire thereby leading to a gun-battle between the two sides till 3am Monday.
One villager of Kwakta identified as Md Abdul Kadir (45) received bullet injuries on his left thigh and was rushed to Bishnupur district hospital for treatment.
On the other hand, firing by Kuki militants continued on Monday at Khoijumantabi village under Kumbi assembly constituency in Bishnupur district after three village volunteers were killed in the wee hours Sunday.
BSF and state force retaliated the fire to push back the militants and gun-fight at the area is on till the time of filing this report.
Kuki militants also fired towards Meetei village from across Sekmai river from 4am Monday but village volunteers retaliated the fire.
The militants fired from Luwangsangol village under Saikul sub-division of Kangpokpi district.
Additional police teams rushed to the area soon after the attack and engaged the militants in a fierce gun-battle.
However, there is no report of casualty.
As the fighting raged, Kuki militants and fired towards Leikinthabi but village volunteers already positioned in the area retaliated the fire and pushed back the militants.
The Kuki militants also torched some residential and farm houses at Chanbi-rok consequently resulting in Meetei village volunteers rushing to Chanbirok and engaging in gun-battle at the intersection of Khong-nangpokpi and Chanbirok.
Though one Meetei volunteer was injured in the gun-fight, Kuki militants were pushed back from the area while two bunkers used by Kuki militants were dismantled.
According to a Chanbirok villager, Kuki militants fired towards Meetei villages at about 4am Monday ana they even came close to Leikinthabi Chingmang after they trekked along the hilltop.
The villager also said that some 15 Kuki militants torched residential and farm houses at Chanbirok, which is about 7 km from the SoO camp at Thingsat village.
A late report said that Kuki militants torched 10 Meetei houses at Lainingkhul (Tur-ingphaisen) amidst the gun-fight with Meetei volunteers at Khoijumantabi from 4pm till 8.30pm.Lainingkhul is jointly inhabited by Kom, Hmar and Meetei communities.
Bishnupur additional SP (Ops) Roni Mayengbam, 6 IRB CO Soibam Shashidananda and personnel of BSF under the initiative of Bishnupur SP H Balaram are taking up stringent measures to flush out the Kuki militants.
No casualties have been reported as of now.