Phougakchao Ikhai Police Station has lodged an FIR against personnel of 9 Assam Rifles for allegedly blocking a team of state police and commandos while pursuing armed miscreants after they reportedly killed three, including a father-son duo on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Saturday at around 6.30 am near Kutub Wali Masjid located at Kwakta Ward Number 8 along Pholjang road, about 2.8 km northwest.
In the complaint report submitted by a sub-inspector of Phougakchao Ikhai Police Station, it is mentioned that at about 6.40 am on Saturday, they received an information that, on the same day at about 6.30 am, a team of state police, including district commando, Bishnupur led by superintendent of police, Bishnupur proceeded towards the Pholjang road along Kwakta Ward Number 8.
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The teams proceeded to the spot as follow up action in connection with FIR number 927(8)2023 PGCI-PS u/s 302/400/427/436/460 IPC and 25(1-C) Arms Act for conducting search operation to trace out the accused Kuki militants that might have been taking shelter at Kwakta Ward number 8 which is located at the adjoining area between Kwakta and Pholjang village.
The report stated that on reaching the Kutub Wali Masjid located at Kwakta Ward number 8 along Pholjang road, the state police team, including district commando, Bishnupur, were stopped and blocked by the personnel of 9 Assam Rifles by parking their ‘Casspir vehicle’ in the middle of the Kwakta Pholjang road and obstructed in discharging their law bound duty, giving a chance to the accused Kuki militants to escape freely to a safe zone for them.
Under the complaint, a suo-moto case has been registered at Phougakchao police station under FIR number 982(8)2023 PGCI-PS u/s-166/189/341/353/506 and 34 IPC for investigation.
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It is worth mentioning here that on the same day, i.e., August 5, 2023, three Meitei villagers, including father-son duo, were brutally murdered in their homes by suspected Kuki militants in the wee hours at Kwakta Lamkhai Ward Number VIII.
Following the incident, a heavy gunfight took place in the area between Kuki militants and state forces along with Meitei village volunteers.
Coming heavily under the scan of the public for allegedly being biased towards the Kuki community, rally protests were held in the valley districts of the state on Monday calling for the government to withdraw the Assam Rifles from the state.
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Perhaps, the aftermath of the rally and the call to withdraw them from the state, the 9 Assam Rifles along the Bishnupur-Kangvai Road were removed on Monday and replaced by 128 Battalion of CRPC after the Centre earmarked 10 additional companies of central security forces for law and order duty in Manipur as communal tension escalated in strife-torn state.
A government order issued and signed by additional general of police (law and order), Manipur L Kailun mentioned that in partial modification of office’s order of even number dated August 3, the naka/check point at Moirang Lamkhai in Bishnupur to Kangvai road shall be manned by civil police and CRPF in the place of 9th Assam Rifles with immediate effect and until further order.
