By M.Devanand Sharma
Imphal (Manipur) Sept 4 : Kuki militants threaten to expel Meiteis from Kuki area. In the aftermath of a violent rally staged by Kuki communities in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, armed Kuki militants launched a series of attacks on several villages in the periphery of Imphal East and Imphal West districts.
The targeted villages, including Koutruk, Kadangband, Sinam, Sabungkhok Khunou, Thamnapokpi, Shanti Khongba, and Senjam Chirang, were subjected to gunfire from automatic weapons and bombardments from drones.
The attacks, which began on the evening of August 31, have resulted in at least 11 injuries, including six women. Tragically, a 35-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries, while her daughter remains in critical condition. The militants also destroyed an IRB post in the process.
Despite the ongoing violence, which continued into the early hours of September 3, neither central security forces nor the state forces under advisor Kuldeip Singh have issued any statements addressing the attacks.
Adding to the escalating tensions, a video circulated on social media today shows a Kuki militant in combat gear threatening to expel all Meitei people from what they call “Kukiland,” labeling them as militants. The militant specifically warned Meiteis residing in Sapang, Sinam Kom in Kangpokpi district and in Tengnoupal and Churachandpur districts to leave within three days or face forcible expulsion by Kuki Zo volunteers.
The video also features other militants armed with sophisticated weapons, further heightening fears of continued violence. The situation remains tense, with no official response yet from authorities regarding the ongoing attacks and threats.
On the other side acting on the basis of intelligence of the presence of arms and ammunition at the hideouts of the armed miscreants operating in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley district of Manipur, joint team from the State and Central Forces carried out search operations, on Tuesday.
During the search operations, huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosives and warlike stores have been recovered in different sensitive locations of the state.
The joint team recovered one AK-47 Rifle along with Magazine, one HK-33 Rifle along with Magazine, one Triple Barrel Rifle, one .22 Rifle, one Bolt Action Rifle, one 12-Inch Single Bore Barrel Rifle, one HE-36 Hand Grenade, one Motorola Radio Set, 10 Live ammunition Rounds, 75 Fired Cases, one broken INSAS Rifle Magazine, one Machete, three Bulletproof Jackets, two Black Cloth, four Blankets, one)l Jungle shoe, two Backpack bag , one Black Rain Cape, and one Combat coat from Mark hill, Kangpokpi District.
In another search operation, the joint team recovered two unexploded 2” Mortar HE bombs from Haraothel in Kangpokpi District.
However, no arrests were made in the joint search operations.
The seized weapons and warlike stores have been handed over to the Kangpokpi district police station for further legal actions, Police reports said.
