Kuki militants again attack sand miners
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 17 2024:
Kuki militants attacked a group of Meetei sand miners at Keihao foothills under Maphou Dam police station today and three vehicles, they brought have been torched.
A Mahindra Thar jeep is among the three vehicles torched.
The incident took place at around 3.30 pm in the periphery area of Imphal East and Kangpokpi.
Reportedly, a large number of Kuki militants came down from Keihao hill range and Songphel Kuki village and fired multiple rounds of bombs and bullets toward a group of Meetei villagers who were mining sand at Keihao foothills.
Soon after the attack, the unarmed Meitei villagers fled towards Laikhong by leaving behind their vehicles at Keihao.
It is reported that one JCB driver Thokchom Chaoba of Yairipok Yambem Mathak Leikai remained traceless and his phone was found switched off.
Later, Imphal East commandos rushed to Keihao to retrieve the burnt vehicles and rescue the JCB driver.
The missing JCB driver was rescued by the security forces from K Nungmanbi area and brought back to Laikhong village at around
6.30 pm .
Sources said that the JCB driver hid under a thick bush and switched his mobile off.
After burning down the vehicles, Kuki militants fired bullets and bombs indiscriminately toward Lai- khong village and it resulted in an exchange of fire for over an hour with the village volunteers.
Later at around 4 pm, Kuki militants bombarded Itham Moirangpurel and it triggered another firefight between village volunteers and Kuki militants.
A team of Imphal East commandos also rushed to the spot but the firing continued till around 6 pm.
There is no report of any injuries on the side of village volunteers and Meitei civilians.
Villagers of Laikhong and its surrounding area have been shifted to safe places.
Heavy security measures have been taken up in the periphery area of Imphal East and Kangpokpi district, said sources.
Kuki militants had on February 6 also attacked a group of sand miners in between Nongdam Tangkhul and Tumukhong Meitei village.
Meanwhile, the Keihao Village Authority has strongly condemned the conduct of Kuki militants 'within their territory' which causes panic and psychological stress among the villagers.
In a statement, the village authority reminded that they had released a statement on January 28 against the gunfight that took place at Keihao village and resolved not to tolerate any such untoward incidents and asked the Kuki militants who launched the gun attack at Keihao village today to take responsibility for all eventuality.