Manipur: Huge cache of sophisticated arms recovered by security forces; Armed Kuki miscreants fired at Meitei villagers

During the operations, one MP5, one Carbine Machine Gun, one 38.8 tear gas gun, one Country made improvised mortar, and seven munitions were recovered in the general area of Gothal-Phoulijang at Churachandpur district. Moreover, one 7.62 mm SLR with 05 magazines and three Mortar Bombs 51 mm HE were recovered in Thoubal district. Police team was fired upon by unidentified armed miscreants from the hillock between Lokchao bridge to Khudengthabi on the way to Moreh, and the Police team retaliated and engaged with the miscreants.

On the other hand, at least two village volunteers sustained injuries in an attack allegedly by armed Kuki miscreants in the Yaingangpokpi and Seijang areas of Imphal East. The incident took place in the wee hours of 12 October. Armed miscreants from Twichin Kuki Village and Monomphai Village advanced towards a brick field situated between Sabungkhok Khunou and Twichi Kuki village. As per eye witness report, the armed Kuki miscreants opened indiscriminate fire towards Meitei village Sabungkhok Khunou.

The state and central forces rushed to the area and retaliated. Before that, village volunteers of Sabungkhok Khunou also responded to the attack by the armed miscreants. The exchange of fire continued until 9 am. Despite heavy retaliation by the security forces, armed miscreants persistently fired towards the Meitei village till late morning. After a gap of over 3 hours, the kuki miscreants resumed attack later in the day. Two village volunteers were injured in the indiscriminate firing by armed miscreants.

Later Meira Paibi (Meitei women group) protested the firing by Kuki miscreants. A heated argument erupted between security forces and Meira Paibi at Saabungkhok Khunou and Seijang. Later more womenfolk gathered on the road. In an effort to disperse the crowd, the forces initially used smoke bombs and subsequently resorted to lathi-charging. Seven individuals were subsequently admitted to different hospitals for their injuries.

It should be mentioned that Kuki armed miscreants targeting Meitei villages located in the peripheral areas of Lamlai Assembly constituency and Saikul Assembly constituency over the past few days. Women and children had to sought refuge in safer locations during the night due to sporadic firing by armed miscreants.

Meitei civil society groups and Meira Paibi are assuming that security forces are not doing enough to push back the armed Kuki militants which are firing on the Meitei villages at night at regular intervals.