In a fresh incident of violence near the foothill areas of Bishnupur district, a farmer identified as Ningthoujam Biren was injured after being struck by a bullet, reportedly fired by suspected Kuki militants, at Phubala under Bishnupur district on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:15 to 3:20 PM, when Biren, along with two other farmers, was working in a paddy field located close to the hill slopes. According to information from the injured, around five rounds of gunfire were heard coming from the direction of the adjacent hills, raising immediate panic among those present.
Biren was hit on his left forearm during the firing. He has been taken to the district hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment. A video of the injured farmer, visibly in pain and being attended to by medical staff, has surfaced on social media, drawing widespread concern and condemnation of the incident.
Residents of Phubala and surrounding villages suspect the perpetrators to be Kuki militants, citing the direction of the shots and the pattern of similar attacks previously carried out from nearby hill positions. They have expressed growing frustration and fear over the lack of security presence in these vulnerable zones, especially during farming hours.
The situation remains tense in Phubala, with local organizations and villagers calling for urgent action to ensure the safety of farmers and prevent further loss of life or injury. A team of police force also rushed to the site of the incident for further investigation and questionings to the locals present.
As of now, no official statement has been released by the district police or security agencies regarding the identity of the assailants. However, security forces have reportedly been put on alert, and reinforcement patrols have been intensified in the area to prevent further incidents.