Armed Militants Attack Manipur Police Commandos, One Killed and Several Injured

Imphal: In a tragic incident in Manipur’s Moreh area, along the Myanmar border, armed militants attacked Manipur Police Commandos, resulting in the death of one commando and injuries to three others.

Attack in Moreh – A Major Trading Town on the India-Myanmar Border

Moreh, a historical and significant trading town situated on the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district, witnessed the attack. As the security personnel attempted to transfer the injured commandos to the hospital for medical treatment, a group of tribal individuals, including women, attempted to impede their progress.

During the ensuing clash with the security forces, several tribal people sustained injuries. Initially, both the police and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, claimed that a woman had been killed in the altercation. However, the police later clarified that the woman had been unconscious due to severe injuries but was alive and receiving medical treatment at a hospital.

On the other hand, ITLF spokesman Ginza Vualzong asserted that the woman had died after being struck by a security force vehicle.

Police Commando Killed, Militants Fire Rocket-Propelled Grenade Shells

The police officers in Imphal reported that Commando Wangkhem Somorjit lost his life, while three other commandos sustained injuries during the militants’ attack in Moreh. The search operation was launched to apprehend the militants responsible for the attack.

Heavy exchanges of fire took place between the security forces and the suspected militants at three different locations in Moreh throughout Wednesday. The militants also fired Rocket-Propelled Grenade shells at the security forces, escalating the tension in the area.

Curfew Imposed, Additional Security Forces Deployed

Concerned about the possibility of further violence, the district administration imposed a total curfew in the troubled Tengnoupal district from Tuesday afternoon. The curfew was implemented due to the likelihood of breaching peace, disturbance of public tranquility, and the grave danger posed to human lives and property.

To bring the situation under control, additional security forces, including the Assam Rifles, were rushed to the bordering areas. The authorities aim to restore peace and order in the region.

Arrests in Connection with Sub-Divisional Police Officer’s Killing

In a separate development, two individuals were arrested on Monday night from Moreh in connection with the killing of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chingtham Anand Kumar in October the previous year. The arrest of Hemkholal Mate, a leader of the ruling BJP, and Philip Khaikholal Khongsai, a former soldier of the Army, sparked demands for their release from the tribal community in the border town.

Simultaneously, widespread protests erupted in Imphal Valley, with demonstrators demanding that the case be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and that the detainees receive exemplary punishment.

Previous Attacks on Security Personnel

Since December 30, there have been several incidents where suspected Kuki militants have attacked Manipur Police Commandos and a Border Security Force trooper in Moreh. The area, located just four kilometers west of Myanmar’s largest border town Tamu and 110 kilometers south of Imphal, has been home to various communities, including Kuki, Meitei, Naga, Tamil, Pangal, Gorkha, and Sikh, living together in peace and harmony for decades.

IANS

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