After slow restoration of security measures in the border area of Khundrakpam and Saikul areas, there has been report of firing by suspected militants under SoO at Santipur village in Imphal East.
According to sources, the villagers tried to enter back to Santipur early Wednesday as the particular region was limping back to normalcy with deployment of good strength of security personnel.
In that instance, the militants camping at the nearby hill fired few rounds from semi-automatic weapons at those villagers, the sources said. Fortunately, there were no report of any casualty among the villagers in the attack, the sources added.
Santipur is a village holding a total of around 10 households. The villagers had shifted to neighbouring villages during the initial stage of the present ethnic clash in fear of possible attack by militants.
Meanwhile, a personnel of 18 Assam Rifles reportedly sustained bullet injuries, while one militant died during an exchange of fire with suspected militants at Dolaithabi area (around 3 km from Santipur).
As per reports, the suspected militants started firing at the Assam Rifles troops who are on a mission to flush out the militants at the hill range of Dolaithabi and the AR troops retaliated.
Soon after the attack, a large number of security personnel, including the state and central forces rushed to the bordering area of the two constituency and neutralised the situation.
Commenting on the incident of firing at Santipur, Khundrakpam AC MLA Th Lokeshwor alleged that the negligence of the Central government to hold back the militants under SoO from the area had led to another deathly attack at Santipur village in Imphal East by the militants.
Expressing disappointment in witnessing that the Gorkha Regiment posted at Sagolmang remaining as a silent spectator during attack by militants in Santipur, he said, "The very purpose of their presence in that area had become a big question among the people of the constituency."
He said, the situation was neutralised in the border area of the two ACs with the presence of 18 AR and state forces, however the failure to completely drive out the militants from the hill ranges had led to the militants carrying out another attack on the civilians.
"If we have to only keep defending the militants what is the purpose of the existence of the government?" he questioned.
The government confining to being a silent spectator will only worsen the situation and might even compel the innocent villagers to take up law in their hands and fight the militants themselves.
Also Read: Security personnel injured in gunfight with militants in Imphal East
