Imphal/Guwahati: Two people, including a 31-year-old woman, were killed after “Kuki militants” attacked Koutruk villagers “using drone, bombs and sophisticated weapons” in Imphal West district on Sunday, the Manipur government said in a late evening press release.
The woman, identified as Ngangbam Surbala, a Meitei, “succumbed to bullet injuries sustained in the attack”, the Manipur Police said on ‘X’ Surbala was taken to Imphal’s Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) where she was declared dead.
Among those injured are the 8-year-old daughter of the woman and two police personnel, who sustained injuries during the exchange of fire that is said to have begun around 2.35 pm.
“Such act of creating havoc among the unarmed villagers reportedly by Kuki militants is seen as an attempt to derail the efforts taken by State Government to establish peace in the State (sic),” the home department said in a media statement released Sunday late evening.
Earlier, the firing started from Nakhujang village in Kangpokpi district towards Kadangband and Koutruk area in Imphal West district, and continued till dusk. While Imphal West is dominated by the Meiteis, the Kuki-Zo are a majority in Kangpokpi.
Both central and state forces were rushed to the site.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki tribes, alleged it was an attempt to “ambush Kuki-Zo civilians along the ‘Kanggui-Lamka’ road that led to a heavy exchange of fire “between the combined forces of Arambai Tenggol, Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs), Meitei state forces, and Kuki-Zo volunteers in Kangchup region, Sadar Hills.”
The firing comes a day after the Kuki-Zo community took out rallies in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts, reiterating the demand for a “separate administration”. They protested against the viral audio clips allegedly of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, in which certain objectionable comments were made.
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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