VDF man hurt in fresh attack by Kuki militants
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 17 2024:
Kuki militants once again launched a fresh attack in the peripheral area of Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts at around midnight yesterday.
One VDF personnel sustained injuries in the attack which went on till 2.30 am today.
Using sophisticated weapons, Kuki militants attacked Meitei villages of Sekmai Nongthonband and Sekmai Laipat from Phailen and Luwangsangol.
Few minutes before the attack, a drone suspected to be used by Kuki militants, was seen flying at low altitude over Sekmai Nongthonband, Sekmai Laipat and Sekmai Pangaltabi area, sources said.
Village volunteers who were guarding the Meitei villages since the beginning of the violent crisis fired back toward the Kuki militants who tried to approach the Meitei villages.
State police personnel who were deployed in the area also opened fire toward the Kuki militants and prevented them (Kuki militants) from advancing toward the Meitei villages.
Intermittent exchange of fire between Kuki militants and security personnel continued till 2.20 am.
During the attack, one VDF personnel who was on duty at Sekmai Turel Parou area sustained bullet injury on his left leg at around 1.15 pm.
The injured VDF personnel identified as Wangmayum Badaruddin (32) s/o W Abdul Rafique of Mayang Imphal Bengoon was evacuated from the spot and rushed to Raj Medicity for treatment.
Although there is no report of firing in the area during the day time today, the situation is still tense and the security personnel deployed in the area are on high alert to thwart any possible attack by Kuki militants at night time, said the sources.
On the other hand, the Imphal West District VDF Employees' Welfare Association has donated Rs 30,000 toward the treatment of Wangmayum Badaruddin.
The association acting at the initiative of Imphal West SP Ksh Shivakanta distributed uniforms, boots, mosquito nets, mosquito repellents and edible items to VDF personnel deployed at Laipat Parou and Leimakhong Cooperative areas today.
The association has also appealed to the Government to provide the VDF personnel deployed in vulnerable areas with the same facilities entitled to police personnel.
Meanwhile, Kuki militants attacked another Meitei village in Imphal East district at around 6 pm today.
Sources said that Kuki militants fired around 10 bombs and 10 rounds of live bullets on the Meitei village from Moham village located on the northern side of Kamu Hill.
However, there is no report of any injury in the attack.