In a new attack on security forces in the border town of Moreh on Wednesday, armed militants killed two police commandos and wounded five more, according to officials. This is the sixth attack on personnel this month in the unrest-plagued state where over 200 people have died in ethnic clashes that started in May of last year.
According to officials, the gunfire began on Wednesday at around 3:30 am and targeted men from the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The militants, who have not been recognised, fired rocket propelled gun (RPG) shells, bombs, and bullets at a security position.
“Two police commandoes have been killed and five others sustained injuries in the attacks. The situation in Moreh continues to remain tense,” Rahuil Gupta, superintendent of police, Tengnoupal, said over the phone.
Takhelambam Saileshwor and W Somorjit were named as the deceased.
The Manipur administration requested a helicopter from the Union home ministry in order to fly security troops and ammunition to Moreh due to the deteriorating state of law and order in the district, where a complete curfew was enforced starting on Tuesday.
“The law-and-order situation at the border town of Moreh has become a matter of serious concern as there has been continuous exchange of fire taking place and this has resulted in the death of one IRB [India Reserve Batallion] personnel this morning,” said a letter from the state government to the Union home ministry.
“In view of the prevalent situation, the situation may deteriorate further in Moreh (and) medical emergency may arise anytime. Police department informed that there is need for airlifting of security personnel, ammunition etc to Moreh,” added the letter written by T Ranjit Singh, commissioner (home), to the additional secretary, police-II division of MHA.
In response to “emergency requirements,” the letter asked that a helicopter be stationed in Imphal starting on Wednesday and staying there for at least seven days.
Located on the international border between India and Myanmar, Moreh has a long history of being involved in the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and cadres from terror groups with camps in adjacent countries, particularly those from Manipur and other parts of the northeast. Since December 30, Moreh has been a part of Tengnoupal, a region dominated by Kuks. Six armed miscreants have attacked security forces, resulting in the injuries and deaths of at least twelve security personnel.
A woman was seriously hurt on Wednesday after being struck by an Assam Rifles vehicle, according to Kuki organisations in Moreh. They further asserted that police officers set fire to multiple homes. Officials from the police declined to comment.
“At least 11 residential houses and two schools were burnt by Manipur commando today in Moreh,” Ginza Vualzong of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a Kuki group, said.
The recent wave of violence in Moreh comes after two members of the Kuki community were detained on Monday on suspicion of being involved in the murder of a Manipur Police officer in October of last year. The district government implemented a complete curfew starting on Tuesday as a result.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), two well-known Kuki organisations, denounced the arrests and called it a “blatant lie” to connect them to the killing of a police officer.
Since May of last year, ethnic confrontations between the Meitei and the indigenous Kuki-Zo groups have erupted throughout Manipur. At least 202 people have died as a result of the violence, and about 50,000 have been displaced.
Earlier this month, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh commented on the attacks on security forces in Moreh, saying, “We have doubts about the involvement of foreign mercenaries from the Myanmar side.” He also mentioned reports that the Kuki National Army-Burma was involved in the violence in Moreh. Subsequently, however, state security adviser Kuldiep Singh informed reporters that there was no evidence linking groups headquartered in Myanmar to the violence in Moreh.
In addition to Moreh, Manipur has been experiencing intermittent violence in the border regions of districts where the Meiteis and Kukis predominate.
Violent occurrences were also reported from the Thoubal area late on Wednesday night. A member of the Border Security Force (BSF) sustained injuries during an attack on the Thoubal district superintendent of police’s office by militants. Officials reported that when militants tossed Molotov cocktails, the office’s walls and gates caught fire.
“So far we have reports of a BSF personnel injured in the attack. He has been taken to Raj Medicity hospital,” an official aware of the matter said.
More troops in Thoubal have been requested by the control centre in response to the late-night onslaught.
Four members of the Meitei community went missing in the Bishnupur district last week after they went to gather firewood. A few days later, their bullet-riddled remains were discovered.
