Gunfight at Singda, army search Leimakhong Chingmang
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 20 2023:
A gunfight broke out between security forces and suspected Kuki militants at Singda Kadangband Part I on Tuesday.
However, there is no report of casualty on either side.
According to local sources, the gun fight broke out around 9 pm after the sus pected Kuki militants opened firing in Kadangband area following which the security forces deployed in the area retaliated.
It may be mentioned that similar gun fights has occurred in the recent past between the Kuki militants and security forces though no casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, aftermath of four Meitei houses and one Liangmei Naga house set on fire and an army personnel left injured in firing by suspected Kuki militants on the intervening night of June 18 and 19, combined teams of army and state police conducted search operation in Leimakhong Chingmang area on Tuesday.
However, locals expressed scepticism over the search operation, stating that the exercise was conducted for the formality only.
According to a report, two teams of Imphal West district police commandos, one team of Sekmai police station and a column of 20 JAT regiment conducted the search operation at Leimakhong Chingmang village from 8.45 am to 1.30 pm Tuesday.
However, there were no reports of any arrests or any seizure of weapons during the operation.
On the other hand, locals of Leimakhong Chingmang expressed dissatisfaction over the search operation, contending the army did not take along the state forces or the media in the operation at specific pockets and apart from a few spots, the operation in the other areas was not purposeful.
When the army team was leaving the area after winding up the operation, a large number of women mobbed the team at the road leading to Leimakhong and asked the leading officer why the state forces and media were excluded.
The protesting women also shouted slogans like "Ma nipur's integrity cannot be disturbed", ' Implement NRC immediately" and "Withdraw SoO with Kuki militants" .
Speaking in this regard, one Ninthoujam Gyan Meitei of Ingourok Chingmang contended that the operation on Tuesday was conducted selectively, adding that it was in reality patrolling by the army.
He then condemned the exclusion of state forces on the excuse that Kuki in habited areas are risky though they enter Meitei-inhabited areas freely.
In addition, the exclusion of the media has also raised suspicion of any hidden agenda.
All of these are contributing to the people's loss of faith in Assam Rifles and the army, he remarked and urged all concerned not to do things which could further dilute the people's trust.
One of the protesting women named Lourembam Anita of Kanto Sabal said that the demand of the Meiteis has been to protect the integrity of Manipur.
The PM's silence on the matter, however, is disheartening.
She informed that Leimakhong Chingmang is inhabited by Meitei, Kuki and Liangmei Naga.
Unfortu-
nately, the Meiteis have fled to Kanto Sabal and nearby Meitei villages due to safety concerns.
Apart from this, the Meiteis settled at Ingourok Chingmang have also sought refuge at Kanto Sabal.
She continued that the Kukis presently residing at Leimakhong Chingmang are not the original resident Kukis.
The original resident Kukis have long left the area and now it has been occupied by Kukis with unknown origin but have been attacking and setting fire to houses.
Meanwhile, a team of Sekmai Police along with state bomb expert arrived at Ingourok Chingmang to retrieve a mortar shell, suspected to , have been fired by Kuki militants.
The said shell was retrieved by the army during Tuesday's search operation.
The mortar was found to be shell of a 51mm light mortar.
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