Imphal: After a lull for some days, Kuki militants launched fresh attacks on the peripheral areas of the valley on Tuesday. In this fresh outbreak of violence in Manipur, at least 12 individuals were injured on Tuesday, including two Manipur police commandos and four women who were working in paddy fields.
Eight people, including two Manipur police commandos and four women, sustained gunshot wounds when Kuki militants opened unprovoked fire from the hilltop of Kangchup along the inter-district border of Kangpokpi and Imphal West. The attack occurred at approximately 8:30 am.
In a separate incident, Kuki militants fired upon Kangangband and Koutruk villages in the Imphal West district, injuring two villagers around the same time.
In yet another attack, the Kuki militants targeted the residents of Maphou Dam and Ithan Moirangpurel villages in the Imphal East district, leaving two village volunteers with gunshot wounds.
Firing began at 8:30 am and continued until the time of this report. All injured individuals have been rushed to hospitals, including RIMS, JNIMS, and Raj Medicity in Imphal.
In response to these attacks, Manipur police personnel and other security forces rushed to the affected areas, resulting in intermittent exchanges of fire between the two groups. Tensions remain high in these villages, and additional security forces have been dispatched to the region.
Ethnic violence has plagued Manipur since May 3, 2023, resulting in the loss of over 180 lives and the displacement of 61,000 people.
