Manipur: Several Injured After Suspected Attack by Kuki Militants
IMPHAL: According to reports, an attack on two villages in Manipur's Imphal West district by suspected Kuki terrorists using high-tech weapons resulted in at least 15 injured. As soon as the shooting started, Manipur Rifles and state police officers stationed at the two villages of Phayeng and Kangchup Chingkhong replied, which resulted in a Friday night gun battle that lasted for more than four hours.
Meanwhile, as per reports, gunfire broke out between rebels and security personnel in the villages of Chandolpokpi, Tangjeng, Pombikhok, and Kamson in the Bishnupur district. Locals of Tangjeng village fled their houses as extremists stormed the village. Houses were set ablaze in Bethel village in the Churachandpur district. A gunfight between rebels and security personnel reportedly took place in the Kangchup Chingkhong neighbourhood of Imphal West district.
The insurgents were effectively driven back to adjacent hills by the security forces, according to the police, as reported by various sources.
No casualties or injuries have been reported despite claims of additional assaults from Pombikhok in the Bishnupur district during the past twenty-four hours.
A combined squad from the Manipur Police, Border Security Force, and Assam Rifles discovered seven dead in the Sugnu-Serou area of the Kakching district. Police say the bodies have been taken to the JNIMS mortuary and that they were killed in a shootout that broke out last week in Sugnu when armed Kuki militants attacked the town.
Home Minister Ami Shah who recently visited Manipur stated during the conference that an inquiry commission led by a retired judge has been established by the central government to look into violent incidents in Manipur that have resulted in casualties and property damage.
After a four-day visit to the State, the union home minister announced that a special CBI team will look into any violent crimes occurring there.
According to a government statement issued on Friday, at least 98 people have died and 310 others have been hurt in the ethnic violence that erupted in the state a month ago. According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), there are currently 272 relief camps housing a total of 37,450 individuals. On May 3, a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was arranged in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's quest for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation, which sparked the violence.
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