Imphal: In a follow-up action against the brutal gunning down of a police officer at Manipur’s border town of Moreh, a joint security team on Wednesday morning launched an operation there and arrested at least 32 illegal Myanmar immigrants.
Out of the 32, ten were flown to Imphal by a helicopter for further questioning, a police officer said, adding that the rest 22 have been kept at Moreh police station.
Sub divisional police officer (Moreh), Chingtham Anand Kumar was gunned down apparently by a Kuki sniper while he was overseeing the cleaning of a helipad at the border town on Tuesday morning.
A team of state police arrived at Moreh around 2 am, and after an hour it along with central security forces launched the operation at Moreh morning market colony and adjoining areas.
The joint security team, including special police commandos, India Reserve Battalion, and Assam Rifles rounded up around 44 Kukis before verifying them one after another.
The team, during verification, detected the 32 Myanmar nationals who entered Moreh illegally without any valid papers, the officer said.
As ten of them need to be verified further, they were flown to Imphal by a helicopter and are currently being kept at foreigners’ detention centre at Sajiwa area in Imphal East district, he said adding that all 32 would be taken to further necessary legal action.
In the meantime, chief minister N Biren Singh led the people in paying last respect to the lifeless body of Anand at 1st BN Manipur Rifles complex here amid a tearful scene.
The last rites of the late police officer were later performed at his native Haobam Marak Chingtham Leikai locality in Imphal West district.
Biren took to Facebook and said, “Paid humble tributes and deepest respects to Shri Chingtham Anand Kumar, MPS, SDPO, Moreh who was martyred in the line of duty.”
“Manipur has lost a true son of the soil today, but your sacrifices for the Nation will not go in vain. I pray for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace,” added the CM.
Governor Anusuiya Uikey, who conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and also prayed that the Almighty gives the bereaved family members strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss, also prayed for eternal peace to his soul.
