Kuki militant camp set ablaze after attacks on deserted homes and gunfight

According to the reports, the villagers who burnt down an empty camp were venting their anger after militants burnt down at least 100 abandoned houses. The militants also reportedly burnt down the residence of Sugnu Congress MLA K Ranjit at Serou in Kakching district on Saturday midnight.

For the past two days, the police said, there has been round-the-clock exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces.

Prior to the arson incident, a joint operation involving state police, India Reserve Battalion, Border Security Force, and local volunteers engaged in a firefight with militants at the Nazareth camp on Sunday, resulting in the militants abandoning their camp.

The villagers later torched the camp on Sunday night which also has training facilities for newly recruited Kuki militants. A fierce exchange of fire was also reported from Phayeng in Imphal West district on Sunday even as Kuki militants set a sawmill on fire.

Meanwhile, some unknown persons torched a few houses at Langol in Imphal West district on Sunday, police have said.

The recent ethnic violence in Manipur, which erupted a month ago, resulted in a tragic death toll of 98 individuals, with an additional 310 people sustaining injuries. A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in the state to bring back peace.

(With agency inputs)

Updated: 05 Jun 2023, 06:52 PM IST