Guwahati/Imphal: The situation in the border town of Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district is increasingly tense after two Manipur police personnel were killed on the line of duty Wednesday.
“Today (17.01.2024) at early morning, armed militants orchestrated a violent attack on the State forces, employing firearms and explosives in Moreh, Tengnoupal district,” the Manipur Police said in a statement.
The statement added: “In the incident, one personnel of 6th Manipur Rifles namely Wangkhem Somorjit Meetei S/o (L) W. Chaoton Singh of Malom Tulihal Mayai Leikai (R/No.- 0620211015) was martyred in the line of duty, while 03 (three) police personnel sustained injuries. Security forces are presently engaging the inimical elements.”
According to the security sources, the deceased was an India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel attached to the Manipur Rifles.
Tensions in the area have been on the rise ever since Manipur Police arrested two people, identified as Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, Monday. The two are said to be among the main suspects in the assassination of Moreh sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anand Kumar, who was ambushed by “suspected Kuki insurgents” on 31 October.
Earlier Wednesday, bomb explosions reocked the town, followed by the sound of gunfire. Security sources confirmed an IRB post was targeted around 3:30 am, after which firing was reported. The state forces retaliated and the firing was contained for a brief period, the sources added.
“Bomb explosions were heard early morning, and then firing started at multiple locations, including Chavgngphai. And it’s still continuing. The town has been under curfew since Tuesday,” said a resident of Muslim Nagar Basti in Moreh.
A second resident said he was taking shelter at a church, along with the other members of the community, including women and children. Some have locked themselves up in homes, as police commandos were allegedly “entering civilian areas and opening blank fire,” the second resident added.
Residents also claimed a few women have sustained injuries in the firing, while one woman was allegedly hit by a vehicle belonging to security forces, as protesters demonstrated before a patrol party.
Clashes between security forces and armed Kuki groups have been reported in the Indo-Myanmar border town for the past three months following the ethnic clashes between Manipur’s tribal Kuki-Zo and non-tribal Meitei communities in May last year. The fighting intensified towards the end of December last year.
On Wednesday, fighting was also reported between Kuki-Zo village volunteers and police commandos at Phaicham Veng area, leading to a hostile situation.
Two schools — Dr Colvin Academy in Ward 3 area of Phaicham Veng and the Mount Moreh Public School in Ward 9 of Canan Veng — were set on fire Wednesday, alleged the second resident quoted above.
“The flames have been doused at Dr Colvin Academy. Several houses have been burned down,” the resident added.
The state home department has requested the centre to provide air assets to Imphal in view of the prevailing law and order situation in Moreh.
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Tension erupts after arrest of two
Meanwhile, Khongsai and Mate, accused in SDPO Kumar’s killing, were produced Tuesday before the Moreh judicial magistrate and remanded to nine-day police custody.
On Tuesday, Kuki-Zo civil society organisations, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and Committee On Tribal Unity (COTU), condemned the twin arrests by police commandos, with local residents staging protests to demand release of the duo.
A joint statement issued by the two organisations refuted claims linking the two men to the death of the Meitei police officer.
“This is a blatant lie and the Kuki-Zo community will not take it lying down. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the duo. If they are not freed within 48 hours, we will not allow the one-sided communal government favouring only the Meiteis to function in Kuki-Zo areas,” the release stated.
Meanwhile, one of the accused, Mate, was found to be a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said sources. The BJP state unit, initiating disciplinary action, expelled Mate from the primary membership of the party Tuesday. Mate is also said to be the chief of K. Moulsang village in Tengnoupal, and a member of the Mate Tribe Union (MTU).
State requests MHA for air assets
In a letter to additional secretary, Police-II Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs Wednesday, T. Ranjit Singh, commissioner (home department), Manipur government, referred to a purported letter from the MHA on 4 January, requesting the state to “intimate specific period and specify the requirement of MHA air assets”.
ThePrint has seen a copy of the letter.
The letter reads, “As the law and order situation at the border town of Moreh has become a matter of serious concern, as there have been continuous exchange of fire taking place and this has resulted in the death of one IRB personnel this morning. In view of the prevailing situation, situation may deteriorate further in Moreh, medical emergency may arise any time. Police department has also informed that there is also need for airlifting of security, personal, ammunition, etc to Moreh.”
It further requested the MHA to provide helicopters to the state government “and place it at Imphal immediately from today (17 January) onwards for at least (for) a period of seven days to meet the emergency requirements.”
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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