By M.Devanand Sharma
Imphal (Manipur), Nov 7 : Suspected Kuki militants – armed with sophisticated weapons attacked farmers cultivating their fields, and Meitei villages at the periphery areas between Kangpokpi, Imphal East, and Imphal West districts today.
As per the police report, at least 7 people including 2 state police personnel, 2 women villagers, and 3 village defenders were injured in the attack by the heavily armed Kuki militants today afternoon. Among the injured 6 have been rushed to RIMS Hospital, Lamphel and 3 are undergoing treatment at Raj Medicity at North AOC Imphal. The condition of two of the injured, undergoing treatment at RIMS was stated to be critical.
The armed militants suspected to be Kuki community started firing towards Meitei Villages located in the close proximity of Kangchup Chingkhong area near Phayeng Maning leikai at around 11 am today. Villages near Singda Kadangband area were also attacked around the same time. In the attack at Kangchup Chingkhong area, state police, and village volunteers also retaliated. At least 7 people including two police personnel, two women villagers, and 5 village defenders were reported injured after being hit by the bullets fired by the armed militants. Another group of militants also fired toward Meitei villages located in close proximity to Singda Kadangband area. Security forces rushed the site and the gun battle continued for some time. There were no reports of human casualties at this site.
Those injured were rushed to the hospital by ambulance at RIMS Hospital.
At around 9 am today morning, minutes before the attack at the two sites between Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts, another group of heavily armed Kuki militants came down Thamnapokpi Maning Ching site and threatened farmers who were cultivating at their field to stop cultivation and returned. Out of fear, those cultivators ran for their lives, and people in the houses near the paddy field also reportedly ran for their lives. The area comes under Yaingangpokpi Police Station in Imphal East. At Maphou area, there are reports of heavy gunfight between the Meitei village defense force and the armed Kuki militants. A team of Central and State police rushed to the site at Thamnapokpi area where farmers were reportedly driven out by Kuki militants. Another group of Security forces that tried to rush into Maphou area were reportedly stopped by a large number of Meira Paibi at Yorbung and Lamlai areas.
The conflict which started on May 3 between the armed Kuki militants and the Meitei people has affected almost all sections of people in the state. What is more astonishing is that amidst this conflict armed miscreants who carry supplicated weapons taking advantage of the unfortunate conflict started targeting civilians in the heart of Imphal where strict security measures are being claimed to have been taken up by the state government.
