By M.Devanand Sharma
Imphal(Manipur), Jan 8: Heavy firing between security forces and armed Kuki militants at Manipur border town Moreh, along the India- Myanmar border, resumed in the morning today after a brief pause last night. Using sophisticated weapons including bombs, Kuki militants once again launched a fierce attack against security forces, particularly Manipur Police personnel stationed in the border town of Moreh.
According to sources, the exchange broke out when security force was moving towards Moreh ward number 8 for ROP (road operate patrolling). Heavy exchange of gunfire was reported between the security forces and the armed militants from wards No 7 and 9.
Noteworthy, militants opened heavy firing and started shelling three different places of Moreh town at around 7.30 last night. Moreh ward number 7 Heinoumakhong Leikai, Moreh Bazar and new Moreh were targeted by the Kuki militants with bombs and heavy firing. The firing raged on late till night and then died down.
The attack came after the militants warned and asked the Kuki civilians to vacate the Moreh town before Jan 7 . State security personnel retaliated resulting in heavy exchange of firing between the two sides.
Moreh than 30 bombs, RPGs and lethod bombs were fired by the Kuki militants toward the security personnel.
As Kuki militants have intensified attacks on State security forces at Moreh, “war” has only begun in Moreh, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
N Biren identified illegal immigrants and the issue of drugs as the cause of the conflict.
“What we want is peaceful coexistence of all existing communities. We don’t want illegal immigrants to stay. We only want them [illegal immigrants] to return to their original places,” N Biren said.
The Chief Minister continued that what the State had seen since May 3 till recently were conflict between communities and not war. “War has only begun in Moreh. What had happened earlier was conflict between communities, Nobody wants conflict. It has affected both the communities. ” he said.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had stated on January 2 that there is suspicion of involvement of foreign machinery from the Myanmar side in these attacks. CM Biren Singh had asserted that foreign machinery from the Myanmar side, likely to be the Kuki National Army (KNA-B) can be involved in the attacks in Moreh.
