Security forces exchange fire with terrorists in Manipur’s Moreh town

An exchange of gunfire broke out between security forces and suspected Kuki militants in the border town of Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district on Wednesday morning, police said.

Police said terrorists hurled bombs and opened fire at a security forces post near SBI Moreh.

He said the security forces retaliated.

He said a security guard reportedly suffered minor injuries in the firing, but details were not yet confirmed.

Suspected Kuki militants opened fire on a security forces post, 48 hours after state forces arrested two suspects in connection with the killing of a police officer in the border town, police said.

Earlier, following inputs of “likely breach of peace, disturbance of public peace and grave danger to human life and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal”, the Manipur government had imposed complete curfew from 12 am on January 16. .

District Magistrate Tengnoupal’s order said the curfew, however, will not apply to “agencies of the government engaged in enforcement of law and order and maintenance of essential services”.

Meanwhile, a report said that a gunfight lasted for more than two hours between village volunteers and suspected Kuki militants in Kautruk village of Imphal West district on Tuesday night.

Officials said the attackers stopped firing after central security forces reached the area.

Police had arrested Philip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate, the two main suspects in the murder of SDPO CH Anand in October last year. Both of them had fired at the vehicles of security personnel after which the police chased them and caught them.

The two were later produced before Judicial Magistrate Moreh and sent to nine-day police custody, police said.

One pistol with two live rounds, one Chinese hand grenade, ten live rounds of AK ammunition and ten detonators were seized from their possession, police said.

Officials said a large number of women had protested in front of the Moreh police station demanding the “unconditional release” of the duo.

Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal (KIT), Churachandpur district-based Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and Kangpokpi district-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) have condemned the arrest of the duo and refuted “alleged attempts” to link the two. . Murder of a police officer.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)