Fresh gunfight in New Keithelmanbi, Yaingangpokpi
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 08 2023:
Fresh armed attacks by Kuki militants led to gunfights in New Keithelmanbi and Yaingangpokpi areas on Sunday.
Meanwhile, taking the matter seriously, local Meira Paibis have demanded security forces to carry out search operation and arrest the Kuki militants, who have been carrying out attacks, while stating that the government should bear the responsibility of any unwanted consequences arising out of public protest, if the attack continues.
On Sunday around 4.30 am, Kuki militants fired several rounds towards New Keithelmanbi.
Security forces deployed in the area retaliated and a gunfight continued for more than 30 minutes.
No casualties or injuries were reported from either side.
Later, additional security rushed to the area and launched an operation.
However, no arrest was made.
On the other hand, Kuki militants continued armed attack in Yaingangpokpi area on Sunday morning.
Local Meira Paibis of Sanasabi, Thamnapokpi, Yaingangpokpi and Sabungkhok Khunou said that opening fire towards the valley has become a new normal in the area as the Kuki militants carry out such aggression on daily basis despite presence of central security forces even though nobody has been hurt so far.
Personnel of JAT Regiment are stationed at Sanasabi Lai Lampak & Gwaltabi, BSF at Emmanuel Boys' Boarding & Emmanuel Higher Secondary School, Thamnapokpi, and CRPF at Ching Tam High School, Yaingangpokpi.
Despite the daily incident of gunshots coming from the Kuki militants, the central security forces are doing nothing.
On the contrary, the same security forces carry out search operation even at the sound of tyre bursting in the valley area, they claimed, adding that daily bring by Kuki militants has been going unabated for the last 15 days.
SoO militants at Sinai SoO camp set up their bunkers close to the boundary of Yaingangpokpi village.
The gunshots came from Sinai camp, Natung hills, Monoyang, bunkers at Yaingangpokpi boundary and Sangrang towards Sanasabi, Thamnapokpi, Gwaltabi, Gwaltabi Khunou, Yaingangpokpi and Sabungkhok Khunou every day, they said.
So far, the village volunteers have been restraining themselves from retaliation hoping that the central security forces will perform their duty.
However, the security forces seem to be interested in upholding law and order in the valley'only while giving free hands to the Kuki militants.
Unless the security forces take up appropriate measures for arresting those militants and stop the persistent attack, the local people will launch different types of movement and the government should bear the responsibility if anything unwanted happens in such movement, the local Meira Paibis warned.