Manipur Moreh Violence Updates: Two Manipur Police Commandos Killed, Two Sustained Bullet Wounds

Officials reported that amid increased violence in Moreh, a business town on the Myanmar border, on Wednesday, heavily armed terrorists targeted  Manipur Police commandos, killing two of them and wounding two others. According to them, the deceased have been identified as Lamshang, Imphal West district residents – Wangkhem Somorjit (32) and Takhellambam Saileshwore.

The fatal encounter amidst Manipur Moreh violence

During an ambush near the Ima Kondong Lairembi Devi shrine in the morning, Somorjit was hit by gunshots. He passed away from his wounds while receiving care at the Assam Rifles’ Key Location Point (KLP). According to officials, Saileshwore was shot and killed by militants on Wednesday night.

The source further stated that after being flown from Moreh, Constable N Bheem (35), who was shot in the left leg, and ASI Sidharth Thokchom (35), who suffered injuries to his face and ears, were brought to RIMS in Imphal for treatment.

An officer stated that militants launched a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) against a makeshift police unit close to SBI Moreh, starting the shootout. Following this, terrorists repeatedly attacked security personnel at Ward No. 7 and Chikim village, which are close to the town’s border with Myanmar. Also, the militants damaged other nearby parked cars with RPG shells fired at a makeshift commando station.

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Manipuri women blocked roads in protest

In the meantime, a sizable group of Malom women from the Imphal West area blocked the airport’s access road as a show of outrage over the police officers’ deaths.

Spokesperson L Premchand of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the killing of Somorjit told reporters that “the body of the deceased policeman will not be accepted by the family members till the culprits are arrested and brought to justice.” Wearing traditional mourning dress, women sat on the middle of road to prevent all forms of vehicular movement on the route.

Another event was the large-scale demonstration of Meira Paibis from Khwairamband Keithel, Imphal’s largest market, calling for the reinforcement of state forces at Moreh. The cops stopped them as they marched in the direction of the CM’s bungalow.

In addition to engaging in massive arson and building destruction, several Kuki organizations asserted that members of the outlawed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Arambai Tenggol people were moving alongside Manipur state police commandoes and targeting the tribal community.

Following many gun and bomb attacks on police officers by militants, the situation in the border town remained difficult. As a result, an emergency conference was organized in the CM’s secretariat to discuss the state of law and order.  Chief Minister N Biren Singh, members of his cabinet, and MLAs were present during the meeting, an official informed PTI.