As many as nine individuals were left injured in attacks carried out by Kuki militants at three different places after four people were reportedly detained by a mob at Kangchup Chingkhong under Lamshang Police station, Imphal West around 8 am on Tuesday.
As per release from Police Control Room, a Bolero carrying three men and two women belonging to Kuki community coming from Churachandpur to Leimakhong were confronted by an enraged mob.
The mob took away four of them while one escaped. One person from the group was later rescued by security forces and further airlifted by helicopter to Dimapur for medical treatment, the release added.
It further said, the whereabouts of the four individuals, including the one who escaped, remain unknown. Security forces are actively working to locate the missing individuals and rescue them.
Amid the confrontation between the mob and security forces, armed miscreants exchanged fire in the areas of K Songlung hill range, Kourruk and Tairenpokpi.
In the incident two police personnel and seven civilians sustained injuries and were evacuated to hospital. Security forces could eventually bring the situation under control. Meanwhile, security forces carried out search operations and destroyed one bunker.
Our Staff Reporter added that Imphal West SP Shivakanta and additional SP (Law and Order) Amit rushed to the area on receiving information and took control of the situation. DIG Range-1 N Herojit also came to the spot on hearing about the tension which erupted.
Sources said, the rescued individual is one Manglun Haokip, 59, of Nabil Village, Thangjing Hills. He was reportedly injured.
Afterwards, suspected Kuki militants fired several rounds of bullets at around 11.25 am from Songlung village when the state forces and CRPF personnels were in Kangchup Chingkhong. State forces also retaliated to the attack and the gunfight lasted for around 40 minutes.
Nine individuals including a DIG Range-1 escort personnel, one VDF personnel posted in Lamshang Police Station and one civilian (women) were injured during the gunfight. They are being treated at RIMS hospital and Raj Medicity.
The injured individuals are Mutum Basanta, 35 on of M Kesho of Mayang Langjing Sorok Mapal (VDF Lamshang PS); Naorem Kishan, 30, son of N Tiken of Mayang Imphal (Escort DIG Range-I); Mutum Amarjit, 42, of Kairang; Laitonjam Thangal Meitei, 24, son of (L) L Jugesor Meitei of Leimakhong. He is being treated at the ICU.
Laishram Premchand, 43, son of (L) L Bubhon of Nambol Chingmang presently residing at Khurai Kongpal Laishram Leikai; Laichombam Ibemcha, 39, of Kangchup Chingkhong (She is also in ICU); Sorokhaibam Saranjit,3 4, ons of S Dhananjoy of Moirangkhom Loklaobung; Khundrakpam Somorjit Singh, 43, c/o Roji of Khurai Khongpal Chingangbam Leikai, Imphal East, and Khuraijam Nanao Singh, 38, son of Kh Ranjit Singh of Khurai Kongpal Chingangbam Leikai, Imphal East were among the injured persons.
Meanwhile, Kuki militants also attacked Koutruk village under Lamshang Police station from Haraothel side by firing bombs and guns around 11.50 am.
7th MR and IRB personnels deployed at Koutruk also retaliated to the attack. Kuki militants again attacked Koutruk at 3 pm and village volunteers also retaliated to the attack.
Kuki militants further attacked Irengbam village in Bishnupur district from Longa Koireng by firing 50 rounds of bullets at around 1 pm on Tuesday. The Gurkha Regiment stationed at Irengbam also retaliated to the attack.
A gunfight also erupted between Kuki militants and unknown armed miscreants and continued for around 45 minutes near Maphou Kuki Church under Thoubal Dam Police station at around 8.47 am. No casualties were reported.
