Kuki militants go on the rampage at Moreh
More than 20 abandoned Meitei houses razed to the ground
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 26 2023:
Continuing their onslaught against Meiteis, heavily armed Kuki militants including suspected cadres of Myanmar based PDF accompanied by hundreds of women looted and burnt down more than 20 abandoned houses belonging to Meitei families and a Forest office at Moreh this morning and engaged in a shoot-out with security forces.
Amongst the prominent buildings razed to the ground include Hotel Ellora of the UNACCO group and the Trade Centre under the Commerce and Industry Department.
It is reported that a large number of Kuki miscreants escorted by Kuki militants stormed towards the abandoned houses of Meiteis in five different areas of the border town.
The houses were torched after looting them.
Sources said that Manipur police personnel posted at Moreh police station were prevented from going outside by Central armed forces by closing the main gate of the station.
The personnel eventually stormed out of the station after a heated altercation with the Central security forces and fired tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse the mob who were looting and burning the abandoned houses of Meiteis.
Kuki militants however started firing several rounds toward the security personnel after the mob was dispersed and it led to a heavy exchange of fire between the two sides from 9.30 am.
Later, a combined team of BSF and Manipur police also joined the gunfight.
Sporadic instances of firing were reported from Moreh till the time of filing this report.
A late report said that a reinforcement team of special commandos and State forces have headed towards Moreh by land route.
Sources further said that some Kuki militants including suspected cadres of Myanmar based PDF may have sustained injuries in the gunfight.
Heavy security measures have been taken up in the border town, added sources.
It may be mentioned that two cadres of PDF were also killed while laying land mines near Indo-Myanmar border recently.