In a harrowing turn of events, Manipur witnessed a surge in violence as two separate incidents unfolded, leaving a trail of casualties and heightened tensions. On the heels of an attack in Lilong Chingjao that claimed the lives of four individuals from the Meitei Pangal community, a suspected militant strike targeted security personnel in the border town of Moreh.
The attack in Moreh occurred at approximately 8 am on Tuesday when a routine security operation was underway. Armed assailants unleashed a barrage of bombs and automatic weapons on the security team, resulting in the injury of seven personnel, five from Manipur Police and two from the Border Security Force (BSF). The wounded were promptly airlifted to a hospital in Imphal for medical attention.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has suggested the involvement of foreign mercenaries from Myanmar, speculating that factions of the Kuki National Army, specifically the KNA-B and KNA-R, may be responsible for the attack. Singh asserted, “Enough is enough. We will no longer tolerate this kind of mindless act. The government will do whatever necessary to put a stop to such acts,” as he dispatched a considerable number of state and central forces to the troubled spot, initiating counter-insurgency operations.
This latest incident in Moreh follows closely on the heels of a rocket-propelled grenade attack on a police post in the same area just days earlier, where three Manipur Police commandos sustained injuries.
Simultaneously, Manipur is grappling with the aftermath of an attack in Lilong Chingjao, where four members of the Meitei Pangal community lost their lives. The Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the political wing of the banned People’s Liberation Army, claimed responsibility for the shooting, stating that their cadres had attempted to apprehend an alleged drug dealer, Md Hassan. Eyewitnesses reported armed miscreants in police uniforms entering Hassan’s residence, threatening the occupants, including his wife.
The deceased victims in Lilong Chingjao were identified as Md Sirajuddin Makak (55), Md Azad Khan (35), Md Dawood Khan Phundreimayum (40), and Md Hussain Makakmayum (25). Civil society organizations convened in Lilong, adopting resolutions in a public meeting, including a 48-hour deadline for the government to apprehend the culprits and a call for the National Investigation Agency to take charge of the case.
As Manipur faces a complex web of internal and potentially external threats, the government’s response and the unfolding investigations will be closely monitored, with the hope of restoring peace and stability to the region.
