Gunfight continues; Kuki women halt search ops
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal/Bishnupur, July 24 2023:
After burning down Meitei houses at Torbung Sabal Maning village, Kuki militants set up bunkers and continued to rain down bullets at Phougakchao Ikhai Mamang community hall in Phougakchao Ikhai Maning under Phougakchao Ikhai PS of Bishnupur district from 6pm Sunday till around 6am Monday.
As the village volunteers in the area retaliated, the gunfight ceased momentarily due to heavy rains but continued again in the early hours of Monday morning.
However, there were no reports of any injuries.
On the other hand, a large number of Kuki wowen stopped a joint search operation from being carried out at S Kawatlian area of Churachandpur on Mon day afternoon.
According to a report, a combined team of Churachandpur district police, 9 Assam Rifles and 133 Battalion CRPF tried to conduct a joint cordon and search operation in S Kawatlian area at around 1pm Monday.
However, they were stopped from carrying out the operation by a large crowd of Kuki womenfolk.
On the other-hand, combined teams of state police and central forces conducted search operations in the vulnerable and fringe areas of Torbung, Kangvai and Bangal areas of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts on Monday.
According to a report, five live rounds of 12 Bore and 16 empty cases of 7.62 mm AKM ammunition were recovered during the search involving 16 Kumaon Regiment and G-Coy 10 Battalion BSF at'Torbung Mamang Leikai and Sabal Mamang Leikai from 10 am till 1.30 pm.
Meanwhile, report of the Police Control Room said that another accused person has been arrested in connection with the naked parading of two women on May 4, taking the total number of arrests in the case to seven including one juvenile.
The state police is making an-out effort to arrest the remaining culprits by conduct raids at many suspected hide-outs, the report said, adding that Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS), Manipur on Monday registered a case in connection with the viral video of a woman assaulted and killed by a mob including armed man (which happened in Myanmar), falsely depicted as a case of Manipur.
Attempts are being made to identify and arrest the accused per -son(s) for spreading false news with intent to disturb public tranquillity, incite riot and create serious breach of law and order in the state.
Another police team recovered an ambulance on Monday, which was carrying consignment of medical supplies to Churachandpur from unknown miscreants, who stopped the ambulance at Sangaiprou Mamang Leikai.
The medical consignment has been safely handed over to the Medical Directorate, Lamphel.
Around 128 Nakas/check-points were installed in different areas of both the hill and valley districts, and 516 people detained police for curfew violations.
Movement of 666 vehicles on NH-37 and 184 vehicles on NH-2 with essential items were ensured under strict security measures.
The Control Room reiterated its appeal to the public to extend all possible help in bringing normalcy in the state, to clarify any rumour by dialling rumour free number - 9233522822, and to return and deposit arms, ammunition and explosives to police or security forces immediately.