Guwahati/Imphal
In the latest incident of violence in Manipur, three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were injured when a mob attacked the police headquarters in Thoubal district late on Wednesday.
The mob attack came hours after two commandos were killed and six others injured in the border town of Moreh when armed militants attacked a police team. A tribal woman was also killed as she came in the line of fire. Militants have been attacking the security forces for the last many months. And Moreh near the India-Myanmar border has been witnessing gunfights between the security forces and militants.
“Today (January 17, 2024)), an irate mob targeted the 3rd Indian Reserve Battalion (3IRB) in Khangabok, Thoubal District. Security forces repelled them using the minimum necessary force. Further, the mob attempted to breach Thoubal Police Headquarters, prompting the security forces to use legal force. Armed miscreants from among the mob fired with live rounds. As a result, 03 (three) personnel from BSF sustained bullet injuries namely (i)Constable Gourav Kumar, (ii)ASI Sobram Singh, and (iii)ASI Ramji,” Manipur Police posted.
There have been numerous incidents of mobs, that too, led by women, attacking police stations and forces and even looting armouries.
Earlier, the police tweeted: “Today (January 17, 2024) in the early morning, armed militants orchestrated a violent attack on the state forces, employing firearms and explosives in Moreh, Tengnoupal district.
“In the incident, one personnel of the 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. Further, another Manipur Police personnel of the 10th IRB namely Takhellambam Sieleshwor Singh S/o. (L) T. Babu Singh of Akham Village, Imphal West District (Hav. No. 112005762) presently attached to Spl. CDO, was also martyred in the attack by the armed militants at Moreh.”
As the New Year started, four police commandos and a Border Security Force constable were injured during a gunfight between militants and security personnel. They were airlifted from Moreh town to the state capital for better treatment. Militants had also attacked security forces in September last year. This even as unabated ethnic violence led to the killing of 4 people.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had claimed: “Search and combing operations are widely going on. We suspect the involvement of foreign mercenaries from the Myanmar side. It is our commitment to the people of the state and India that we will not succumb to this kind of pressure. We will take necessary, possible measures to counter the terrorists.”
Ethnic clashes between the tribal Kukis and the majority Meiteis erupted on May 3 last year following a Tribal Solidarity March opposing the demand of the latter for Scheduled Tribe status. Nearly 200 persons have been killed so far, thousands have been displaced and scores have been missing since then even as the violence shows no let up.
