Imphal: Chief minister N. Biren Singh on Saturday condemned the indiscriminate firing by Kuki terrorists at Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi in Imphal East which injured two persons including a police commando on Friday.
“Strongly condemn the indiscriminate firing by Kuki militants at Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi in Imphal East, which injured civilians and security personnel. This cowardly and unprovoked attack on innocent lives is an assault on peace and harmony,” Biren posted on X.
“Adequate security personnel have been rushed to the affected areas.The injured are receiving necessary medical assistance, and the government calls for calm and unity in the face of such challenges. Central forces and state police should have proper coordination and understanding when dealing with such situations.”
However, the chief minister did no say a word over the central force who blocked Manipur Police team who were on rescue mission of stranded villagers at Yaingangpokpi on Friday.
Kuki groups launched fresh attack on Meitei villages located in the periphery of Yaingangpokpi area with bombs on December 24 and continued.
One village defense volunteer and a commando personnel sustained injuries in the fierce attack which lasted for more than six hours.
After simultaneous attacks at Thamnapokpi, Shantikhongbal and Sabungkhok Khunou, Kuki militants launched bomb attack on Sanasabi at around 10 am. State security forces deployed in the area retaliated resulting in a heavy exchange of fire.
The Kuki militants ceased firing only after the arrival of reinforcement security teams.
Army troops deployed in the area reportedly did not fire back a single bullet even as the Kuki militants were targeting innocent civilians.
The situation turned ugly when a team of Manipur Police, who were on their way toward Sanasabi and Thamna- pokpi to rescue people from the battlefield, was blocked by the Indian Army.
Enraged by the biased and partisan behaviour of the army troops, local womenfolk and Meira Paibis protested the army personnel.
After a heated argument with the police, the army vehicle made way for the commando team. The commandos evacuated more than 80 villagers, mostly children, women and aged persons from Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi in their casspir vehicles up to Yaingangpokpi Bazar.
This was not the first time central security forces blocked the movement of Manipur Police.
On August 5, 2023, a unit of Assam Rifles obstructed Manipur Police from chasing Kuki militants who were fleeing after murdering three sleeping Meitei men at Kwakta, Bishnupur district.
On June 2, 2023, troops of 37 Assam Rifles surrounded Sugnu police station and blocked the two entrance gates of the police station by parking their bullet-proof vehicles across the two gates.
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