By M.Devananad Sharma
Moreh (Manipur ), Jan 17: In a tragic turn of events, the recent eruption of violence in Moreh border town has resulted in the death of one IRB Personnel, W Somorjit. He succumbed to injuries sustained during the ongoing clash between State Forces and Kuki Militants.
Since this early morning, Moreh has been a battleground with intense exchanges of gunfire between the State Forces and Kuki militants. The situation remains volatile, and the conflict shows no signs of abating.
In a disturbing development, armed Kuki Militants are reported to have blocked an Assam Rifles Casper vehicle en-route to the firing zone at gunpoint. A video capturing this incident has gone viral on social media, heightening tensions and drawing attention to the severity of the situation.
As the firing exchange continues in Moreh, the authorities are grappling with the challenge of restoring order and ensuring the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire. The security forces are working tirelessly to regain control of the situation, but the blockade of the Assam Rifles vehicle underscores the complexities involved in managing the crisis.
The militants had also fired RPG shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity. the Kuki militants hurled bombs and fired at a post of security forces near SBI Moreh. The security forces retaliated the fire.
Two personnel, W Somorjit, (32yrs) from Malom Imphal west an IRB jawan attached to Manipur police commandos deployed in Moreh border town and Havildar Thakhellambam Sailesh of Lamshang Akham imphal west, were killed at around 3.25 am today. The remains of Somorjit along with two injured security personal in kuki militants attack were transported by helicopter from Moreh to Imphal airport .
According to the police, Havildar Thakhellambam Sailesh was hit by sniper and Somorjit had been deployed at an IRB post near the Kondong Lairembi Devi Mandir at the time and the assailants attacked it using grenades, followed by a volley of firing. Wangkhem Somorjit was survived by two children and his wife.
“Kuki militants along with Burmese Militants attack us from all four direction to our police station and Commando camp they have used heavy bombs shells including flaming bombs and they also used all war like weapons to attack us, our commandos were killed and some were injured. We won’t spare any kuki militants” said Special Commando SP Krishnatombi Singh
The suspected Kuki militants fired at the security forces post, 48 hours after two suspects in the killing of a police officer were arrested by state forces in the border town, police said.
Earlier, following inputs of “likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquility and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal” the Manipur government imposed a total curfew from 12 am on January 16.
The order by District Magistrate Tengnoupal stated that the curfew shall, however, not apply to “agencies of the government employed in the enforcement of law and order and maintenance of essential services”.
Police had arrested Phillip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate, the two main suspects in the killing of SDPO Ch Anand in October last year.
The two were later produced before the Judicial Magistrate Moreh and have been remanded to nine days police custody, police said.
