Heavy gunfight between suspected Kuki militants, clash between AR and Meira Paibis in Pallel area reported

IT News
Imphal, Sept 8:
Heavy gunfight was reported today between the state security forces and the armed Kuki militants at Molnoi Village in Pallel area of Tengnoupal district.
Report said that a heavily armed group started attacking the Molnoi area early today morning at around 6 am using automatic weapons. A police team rushed to the site and in an effort to protect those settling in the area retaliated and firing between the armed group, suspected to be Kuki militants. Source said that at least 4 militants might have been killed in the gunfight.
The report said that following the report of Kuki militants attacking the innocent villagers, thousands of men and women thronged to Pallel area from Kakching and Thoubal sides. Those unarmed people with the spirit to protect Manipur from armed militants were stopped by Assam Rifles personnel deployed at Pallel. As gunshots were heard unabated till afternoon a large number of men and women confronted the Assam Rifles and tried to enter Pallel side where the firing was taking place. The Assam Rifles reportedly fired tear gas shells and later with live bullets killing at least 2 (two) people. 11 are reportedly hit by bullets and are evacuated at Jeevan Hospital Kakching. Among them, condition of one is reported as critical and has been taken at RIMS hospital in Imphal. Report also said that around 75 people including women were injured in the Assam Rifles action.
One of the two deceased who died by the bullets of the Assam Rifles has been identified as Yengkhom Jiten (48) of Kakching Chumnang Samballei Pareng in Kakching district. The identity of the other deceased is yet to be identified. Sounds of gunshots were heard when Imphal Times reporters at the spot called on the head office to report the incident.
Meanwhile, women and children of New Lamkang village and Meitei village located in close proximity to the firing site packed their belongings and ran for life at Komlathabi Village site.
Another report added that in the wake of ethnic violence in Manipur’s Molnoi, where unidentified assailants engaged security forces in a gunfight after firing upon them, Meitei women groups reportedly obstructed reinforcements en route to the area. The attackers, concealed in a jungle, initiated the clash at 6 a.m. An anonymous official disclosed that Meira Paibis (Meitei women) was hindering the movement of reinforcements.
The identity of the assailants remains unclear, and as of 9:30 a.m., neither the police nor central forces had confirmed casualties. This unrest follows a recent bout of violence, with clashes between tribal Kukis and dominant Meiteis resulting in eight fatalities and over two dozen injuries, including three India Reserve Battalion personnel, on August 29 and August 31.