IT News
Imphal, Sept 2:
Gunfight continues between the armed Kuki militants and the combined security forces supported by the Meitei village defenders at various locations in the peripheries between Churachandpur and Bishnupur district and also at Imphal West and Kangpokpi district. First-hand report said that at least 2 armed militants were killed and as many as 8 others were injured in the gunfight at Kadangband and Geljang area today.
Report said that armed Kuki militants started attacking the Kadangband village at around 4 am today. The Meitei village defenders retaliated and the gunfight between the two groups lasted for around 5 hours. The Meitei village defenders chase the militants to Geljang village. The interesting part is that heavily armed suspected Kuki militants were seen loitering in the surroundings of a Church located at Geljang Village.
“Men armed with LMGs and other sophisticated weapons wearing black attires were seen in and around the Church”, a reporter told Imphal Times. It added that those armed Kuki militants are using the Church as bunkers to attack the Meitei village. The report added that at least 2 armed Kuki militants may have been killed in the attack. One buffalo was also killed after being hit by a bullet.
The gunfight in the Periphery between Churachandpur and Bishnupur district also entered five days today. The armed Kuki militants started attacking the Naransena village on Tuesday morning by shooting a farmer who went for cultivation on the early morning of that day. The Meitei village defenders also retaliated and security forces too rushed to the site to neutralize the gunfight. Camera lens of a video journalist was even hit by a bullet fired from a long-range hilltop at Naransena and Thamnapokpi. On the Second day, the armed Kuki militants started raining bombs towards the Meitei villages.
The attacks by the armed Kuki militants continue today too. Gunshots using sophisticated firearms were reported fired towards Terakhongsangbi village in Bishnupur district. In the attack, at least one civilian villager sustained critical bullet injury.
Meanwhile, Meitei village defenders at Phougakchao, Khoijumantabi, Ngangkhalawai, Phuballa, Toubul in Bishnupur district and other at the periphery areas between Imphal East and Kangpokpi district has been alerted following a warning by ITLF to start attacking Meitei villages. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and other Kuki militants currently engaging in Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the government of India had also reportedly appealed Kuki people to prepare for a massive attack on Meitei villagers in a statement circulated through various mediums of social networking sites.