Manipur: Two casualties reported, more helicopters sought from Center as tension persists in Moreh

The situation remains tense in Manipur’s Moreh following multiple gun and bomb attacks on police personnel by militants and clashes between local residents and central forces. The firing began after terrorists fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a makeshift police unit near SBI Moreh, followed by multiple attacks on security forces in Ward No. 7 and Chikim village, located near the city’s border with Myanmar.

Here are the latest updates:

1. There are reports of two casualties. During an ambush near the Ima Kondong Larembi Devi temple, Manipur Police jawan Wangkhem Somarjit, 32, was shot and died during treatment at the Key Location Point (KLP) of the Assam Rifles. Two more IRB personnel were injured in the firing, officials said.
2. A top official said the bodies of Somorjeet and two injured personnel were airlifted to Imphal by helicopter. N Bhim (35), who sustained injuries on his left leg, and ASI Siddharth Thokchom (35), who suffered injuries on his face and ear, have been admitted to RIMS for treatment, the officer said.
3. More central forces and at least two companies would move to Moreh on 19 January. More special forces and Assam Rifles have reached the spot. The state government has asked for more helicopters from the Centre.
4. In a related development, according to officials, a woman was seriously injured when she was accidentally hit by a vehicle of the central forces when it tried to stop it. Despite the curfew, a large number of women came out on the streets and blocked the road to stop the movement of Assam Rifles and Army personnel rushing in to control the situation.
5. A top-level meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to discuss the situation, which was attended by N Biren Singh, ministers and MLAs, an official said. PTI,
6. There has been regular firing between security forces and terrorists in Moreh for the last few days. The latest incident of firing came just 48 hours after state forces arrested two suspects involved in the killing of a police officer.
7. The Kuki side claimed that at least nine residential houses and two schools were burnt in Moreh.
8. Earlier this month, Singh said there was a strong possibility that Myanmar’s foreign mercenaries were involved in gun and bomb attacks.

(With PTI inputs)