Firing shuts Moreh market; Haotak gunfight continues
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 12 2024:
Even after stern warning from Assam Rifles, Kuki militants opened fire towards civilian area in Moreh bazar on Friday morning leading to abrupt shutdown of the market in the border town while two IEDs suspected to have been laid by Kuki militants were retrieved by AR troopers.
According to a police source, the curfew imposed by Tengnoupal district administration in Moreh town was relaxed from 6am to 12noon on Friday.
However, at about 7.15am, Kuki militants fired some 5/6 rounds towards Moreh bazar from the hillock near the sub-divisional hospital at Moreh Ward No 7 .
The firing created panic forcing women vendors at the market and public to flee from the area.
Upon learning about the incident, security forces rushed to the site and inspected the situation though there was no report of casualty.
Meanwhile, AR troopers retrieved two IEDs laid by Kuki militants to target state forces from the road leading to T Yangnong village on Thursday at about 3.30pm.The IEDs were detected by a foot patrol team of 5AR who conducted search in the area after getting tip-off of laying IEDs.
Both the IEDs weighed 4.7kg each and the troops recovered more than 15 metre long flexible wires of different colours from the site.
Moreh PS has registered a case and started investigation to identify culprits involved in laying the IEDs.
Meanwhile, gunfight continued at Haotak area under Kumbi assembly constituency on Friday as Kuki militants launched fresh rounds of attacks using automatic weapons and bombs in the wee hour.
Joint security forces are being deployed in the area to trace the fourth missing person, after three of them were found dead in Haotak Phailen area, with their throats slit, on Thursday morning.
On Friday around 1.30 am, the Kuki militants fired bombs and bullet towards Haotak Tampha Khunou area.
Joint security force of state police, CRPF and Mahar Regiment deployed in the area retaliated the attack.
Village volunteers also joined the retaliation.
The intense gunfight continued for around 2 hours.
After a brief pause, the Kuki militants launched another round of attack at around 4 am and both sides engaged in heavy gunfight, which continued for nearly three hours.
There is no report of any casualty on either sides.
Local villagers fled to safer locations.
Meanwhile, a public meeting was held at Wangoo Sabal playground on Friday.
Apart from AMUCO leaders, local residents of surrounding villages like Kumbi, Ithai, Wangoo, Sagang, Naodakhong, Haotak, Laingoubi, Khoijumantabi, Wangoo Tera, Heinoujam attended the meeting.
The meeting called for intensified search and fescue operation to trace the missing person Ahanthem Dara (55) son of Apikchao of Terakhong Akashoi.
It also demanded the government for immediate measures to resolve the crisis and restore peace at the earliest.