Three Kuki militants gunned down
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 02 2023:
Three Kuki militants were reportedly killed in a gunfight today morning in the peripheral area of Kadangband and Kangchup Geljang.
Heavily armed Kuki militants launched an attack by using sophisticated weapons toward Kadangband village at around 4.30 am.
The Kuki militants first opened fire from the directions of Kangchup, Tuikun and Kotlen.
Even as Manipur Rifles personnel deployed in Singda-Kadangband area opened blank fire to deter the Kuki militants, the latter only intensified their attack from Kangchup Geljang side.
Subsequently, security personnel deployed in the area retaliated and three Kuki militants were killed in the retaliatory fire.
Some local people said that the dead militants were seen taken away from the spot by other Kuki militants who were involved in the attack at Kadangband village.
The exchange of fire which started at around 4.30 am went on till around 7 am.
It is said that four other Kuki militants sustained injuries in the gunfight.
Soon after the incident, security personnel carried out a massive search operation to nab those involved in the gun attack.
Security has also been tightened in the area to prevent any kind of further unwanted incidents in the area.
Again, at around 2.30 pm, Kuki militants came down from Bethel Kuki village and opened fire toward Kadangband Part-I .
As security forces retaliated, the Kuki militants retreated.
As such, the gun fight ended within around 15 minutes.
There was no report of any casualty on the side of the State forces.
On the other hand, a Meitei villager sustained bullet injury suspected to have been fired from a sniper at Leingang, Bishnupur district, reports our Moirang correspondent.
Kuki militants who have built bunkers on the hills at Haotak (Kom) village, Langjingmanbi reserved forest, Leingang, Khoirentak (Kom) village, Nelpaching and Kangathei (Kom) village attacked the western sides of Thamnapokpi, Naranseina and Phubala today.
As State forces including IRB retaliated, a gun battle broke out between the two sides.
A village volunteer was hit by a bullet on the thigh which was suspected to have been fired from long range using a sniper rifle.
The gun battle was going on till the time of filing this report.