This event happened after a shootout the day before in the Pukhao neighbourhood of Imphal East district, which left one Assam Rifles soldier injured.
At least one Manipur police commando was killed and five others sustained injuries in a shootout between security forces and suspected Kuki militants in Tronglaobi, Bishnupur district early Thursday. This incident followed a gunfight the previous day in Pukhao area in Imphal East district, which left one Assam Rifles personnel injured.
The ethnic violence that has engulfed Manipur over the last few weeks has claimed 60 lives so far, according to figures put out by the state government.
Reports indicate that the police team was patrolling the area when they came under indiscriminate firing by the suspected militants. The injured were evacuated to different hospitals in Imphal, while the deceased policeman was killed on the spot. Confirming the incident, Manipur Education Minister said the shootout occurred around 7 am and there could be casualties on the militant side.
Taking serious note of the constant firing between armed miscreants and security in the peripheral areas of Imphal, Manipur Police and Assam Rifles have started inspecting designated camps of militants under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement. “The state force and Assam Rifles have started the inspection of militant camps set up under the SoO. The verification process for armed kept in their camps has also started,” said Manipur Education Minister Th Basanta Singh.
In a separate incident, three Meitei villagers were reportedly abducted by armed miscreants early morning at Torbung Bangla in Bishnupur district. The villagers, who were out to get supplies in their village, were taken by the armed men. The kidnapped villagers are currently staying at a relief camp in Moirang.
“There were seven of us. Two of them were unloading rice from a granary as we wait outside standing guard. Out of nowhere, around 5 armed persons showed up. Some of us including me managed to escape but three persons were abducted,” said W Mohen, 42. The villagers including those kidnapped are currently staying at a relief camp in Moirang.
Meanwhile, irate mobs in Kangpokpi district, a Kuki-dominated district about 43 km away from Manipur’s capital Imphal, burnt down a car along the highway and blocked Kangpokpi stretch of National Highway-2. As a result, around 180 Imphal-bound goods-laden trucks were forced to turn back from Kangpokpi district towards Senapati district, a Naga-dominated district.
Minister Th Basanta said the “overall situation” in the state has improved significantly except for the sporadic incidents. “Situation is almost under control with the successful deployment of troops in sensitive areas. Security forces are constantly working on area domination, flag march, aerial survey, among others,” he said.
The situation was relatively calm in the capital city Imphal where curfew restrictions were lifted for 7 hours from 5 am to 12 noon. However, long queues were seen in ATM booths, petrol pumps, and banks during the curfew hours.
