Phubala comes under bomb attack
Source: The Sangai Express
Bishnupur, September 14 2023:
After intermittent firing between State security forces and Kuki militants, Phubala Maning under Moirang police station came under bomb attack this morning at around 7 am.
Kuki militants launched the bomb attack from Chingphei Ching towards the Meitei settlement.
At around 7 am, two bombs fell at the High Canal area but only one exploded.
Sounds of explosions and gunfire were also heard at Chingphei Khul areas at around 10 am today.
Speaking to this reporter, one villager said that the bomb attack was witnessed after intermittent firing was reported last night.
Only one bomb exploded and there is no report of any casualty, he said.
Roughly around three hours of the attack, sounds of gunfire and explosions were also heard, he said.
Earlier, they thought that they had been under attack but the sound seemed to come from the foothills of Chingphei.
As such it is still unclear what has happened there, he said while adding that they fear that they will put the blame on Meiteis even if there was infighting among themselves.
He also decried the order issued by SP Bishnupur yesterday to pull back State security forces 500 metres from High Canal area towards Low Canal area.
Within 30 minutes of the withdrawal of the security personnel, several rounds of bullets were sprayed towards Meitei settlement by the Kuki militants, he said.
They had to spend a sleepless night yesterday fearing fresh attack from close range, he said.
However, there is a sigh of relief as the Bishnupur SP has this morning ordered to dispatch a platoon of BSF and a combined force of 2nd MR personnel, VDF personnel and village volunteers to the High Canal area, he said.
Maintaining that the villagers cannot fully rely on Central forces, the idea of deployment of combined force is encouraging, he said.