Five people belonging to the Meitei community were killed in two separate incidents of gun firing in Manipur on Thursday. This follows the attack on Wednesday morning in Tengnoupal, where two police personnel were killed and six others injured by armed militants.
In the last two days, seven people have died, and nine others have been injured.
Also Read:Manipur: Three BSF personnel sustain bullet injuries in mob violence in Thoubal, curfew imposed
Kuldeep Singh, Manipur Security Advisor, stated that an intelligence report had warned of potential insurgent attacks, including “reinforcement from Burma,” on security forces in Moreh town, near the Myanmar border. However, there is currently no evidence regarding the involvement of foreign parties in the incident.
On Thursday, gunfire incidents occurred in various areas at the border of Meitei-dominated and Kuki-dominated districts, leading to the deaths of at least five Meiteis in two separate incidents.
Also Read:Security personnel killed in attack by militants in Manipur’s Moreh as curfew continues
According to police, the authorities discovered the body of an individual on Wednesday night in Kangchup, near the border of Imphal West and Kangpokpi district. The person is suspected to have been killed in a crossfire between armed individuals. In a distinct incident of gunfire in Bishnupur district, four individuals lost their lives. The victims were identified as Oinam Bamaljao and his son Oinam Manitomba, as well as Thiyam Somen and Ningthoujam Neta.
Additionally, attempts were made to loot weapons from police establishments in Thoubal district on Wednesday night, where three BSF personnel sustained bullet injuries. Mobs targeted the 3rd Indian Reserve Battalion in Thoubal’s Khangabok and Thoubal Police Headquarters. Security personnel managed to push them back, but at Thoubal Police Headquarters, three BSF personnel sustained bullet injuries when the mob opened fire during the confrontation.
Speaking about the attack in Moreh on Wednesday, security advisor Singh stated that since Wednesday morning, a significant number of Kuki militants engaged in firing at police commandos at three locations.”There was an intelligence report from before that the PDF insurgents operating at Moreh, and maybe some reinforcements from the Burma side, also may attack state forces,” he added.
Singh noted increased militant activities in the area after the arrest of two individuals suspected in the October 31 killing of Manipur police officer Anand Singh earlier this month. He pointed out that there is currently no evidence implicating armed parties from Myanmar in the violence in Moreh.