Guwahati/Imphal: In the days leading up to the ethnic conflict in Manipur reaching the one-year mark, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officials were killed in the line of duty Saturday at Naranseina village along the Imphal-Tiddim road in Bishnupur district, about 3 km from Moirang town and 12 km from Bishnupur Bazar.
Considered a “sensitive zone” by the state government, Naranseina Maning Ching village is situated between the valley areas of Bishnupur inhabited by the Meitei community and the hills of Churachandpur district where the Kuki-Zo population resides.
No insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Security sources said armed men fired upon the CRPF post located close to the 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion camp at Naranseina. Army columns are located within 3 km of the area.
Four security personnel of the CRPF suffered gunshot wounds and were rushed to the nearby Bishnupur district hospital. One of the personnel succumbed to his injuries here while three others were shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal. Of the three injured CRPF personnel, another died at the hospital later.
Though an official announcement is awaited, sources in Manipur Police said the deceased have been identified as sub-inspector N. Sakar from Assam’s Barpeta district and head constable Arup Saini from West Bengal. The mortal remains would be flown to their respective hometowns after the postmortem, sources informed ThePrint.
A Bishnupur resident said that some of the security personnel were away on election duty and a few others were manning the post when the attack took place.
Naranseina village comes under the Moirang assembly constituency and Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency, which went to polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on 19 April.
Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched and state police are coordinating with central forces. The area has been cordoned off. Security sources added that the last incident of gunfight before Saturday’s attack was reported at the Naranseina area in January.
In another incident of firing between suspected Kuki and Meitei armed groups Friday in Imphal East district, one person was found dead at Sinam Kom village. The deceased has been identified as Laishram Prem (33), also known as Bungomacha, who hailed from Sinam Mamang Leikai village.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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