Manipur crisis: 9 injured in gunfight, 4 persons untraceable, 2 KRA (U) cadres nabbed

Imphal: Two police personnel and seven civilians were injured in Manipur on Tuesday when armed miscreants exchanged fire armed miscreants exchanged fire in the areas of K. Songlung hill range, Koutruk and Tairenpokpi and they were evacuated to hospital.

The fire exchange took place amidst confrontation between a mob and the security forces.

The mob was earlier confronting five individuals (two women and three men) belonging to Kuki community at Kangchup Chingkhong who were traveling from Churachandpur to Leimakhong in a Bolero vehicle. The enraged mob forcibly took away four of them, while one escaped. One person from the group was later rescued by security forces and further airlifted by chopper to Dimapur for further medical treatment.

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, Manipur Police Control Room said.

Security forces could eventually bring the situation under control. They carried out search operations in the area and destroyed one bunker, it added.

Security forces also conducted search operations in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Thoubal and Imphal West districts.

In connection with the missing case of two boys on Sunday, Manipur Police and security forces arrested two cadres of KRA(U) who are highly suspected to be involved in committing the crime. The arrested persons have been remanded to police custody for further interrogation. Combing operations are being carried out to apprehend the other culprits, the police control room said.

A total of 133 checkpoints were installed in different districts of Manipur. Police detained 2067 persons in connection with violations in different districts of the state.

The police control room appeals to general public not to believe in rumours and be aware of false videos. It also appeal to public to return the ‘looted arms, ammunition and explosives’ to the police or nearest security forces immediately.