Massive search ops carried out at Sugnu, Dongyang, Lailophai
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2024: After seven days of continuous attack by Kuki militants at Meitei villages of Sugnu using bombs and sophisticated firearms, security forces carried out massive search operations in Sugnu, Dongyang and Lailoiphai areas in Churachandpur district.

Kuki militants, taking positions in Dongyang and Lailophai villages of Churachandpur district, have been bombarding Meitei villages of Sugnu for the past six days.

They continued their attack this morning too and stopped the assault at around 8 am.

As the Kuki militants ceased firing, there was no exchange of fire between Kuki militants and Meitei village volunteers during the search operation which went on from morning till evening.

On Sugnu side, the search operation was carried out by a combined team of 136 Bn BSF and Kakching district police.

In Lailophai and Dongyang areas where Kuki militants built bunkers and have been taking positions, the search operation was carried out by a combined force of Churachandpur district police, CRPF and ITBP.

However, there is no report of any arrest.

On the other hand, MLA Kangujam Ranjit said that Meitei volunteers of Sugnu and other places have been fighting against the Kuki militants since the latter renewed their offensive on February 14 .

Notably, K Ranjit has been putting up at Sugnu since February 16 and monitoring the ground situation.

Had there been no village defence volunteers, Kuki militants would have advanced beyond Sugnu Bazar, slaughtered a number of Meitei people and reduced hundreds of houses to ashes, he said.

Armed with sophisticated weapons like UMG, LMG, 81mm mortars and 51 mm mortars, the Kuki militants have been attacking Sugnu with an intention to annihilate the entire Meitei community, he said.

Ranjit added that the Meitei volunteers have been only defending their villages.

As the Kuki militants have been attacking Sugnu relentlessly from atop the nearby hills for seven days, a DIG and the SP of Kakching district have been putting up at Sugnu since some days back.

One IGP too put up a night at Sugnu and made a direct assessment of the situation, the MLA said.

He rued that the situation could have been contained on February 14 itself if the Government had taken up adequate security measures by deploying additional security forces.

Law and order has collapsed completely in Churachandpur.

The State Government is unable to enforce law and order in Churachandpur.

Even the Superintendent of Police was threatened recently, he asserted.

Around 14/15 houses with tin roofs have been badly damaged at Sugnu due to incessant bombardment by Kuki militants throughout day and night.

A number of valuables kept inside houses and some concrete houses have also been damaged, he said.

In the course of the seven-day long aggression by Kuki militants, two village volunteers and two BSF personnel sustained injuries.

With Kuki militants bombarding Meitei villages day and night, women and children have fled to safer places.

During the night, Kuki militants only used bombs and mortars.

An atmosphere of uncertainty and complete insecurity has gripped all the Meitei villages of Sugnu, said the MLA.

If the week-long fighting at Sugnu must be stopped, Kuki militants who have built bunkers and taken positions at Lailophai and Dongyang must be flushed out, he said.

If the Government had sent adequate security forces and dislodged the Kuki militants from their positions, the war-like situation at Sugnu could have been contained days back.

With the Government unable to enforce law and order in Churachandpur, Kuki militants have been indulging in whatever they fancy, he said.

Expressing strong resentment against the Government's failure to take up any tangible measure to neutralise the week-long Kuki aggression, Ranjit reminded the announcement made by Chief Minister N Biren on February 17 that combing operations would be carried out by Central forces at Lailoiphai and Dongyang.

Special commandos would be sent in if the Kuki militants do not stop their aggression even after the combing operation, Ranjit quoted the Chief Minister.

But there was no action from the side of the Government for three days after the Chief Minister's announcement.

Incidentally, Kuki militants intensified their attack at Sugnu on the night of the Chief Minister's announcement, Ranjit said.

He then urged the Chief Minister not to make such announcements if he is not in a position to act on his own announcements in time.

He advised the Chief Minister to act silently instead of making loud noises in the media.

Ranjit added that he would continue to put up at Sugnu in solidarity with the villagers.

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