IT News
Imphal Aug 5:
A day after a large number of people had thronged at Torbung area protesting the proposed plan for the burial of the Kuki militants killed in the ongoing violence at the same place, unknown armed militants suspected to be Kuki group engaging in the suspension of operation with the government today shot and slaughtered three Meitei people who were sleeping at their respective houses at Kwakta in Bishnupur district.
Report reaching here said that heavily armed Kuki militants came searching for Meitei people staying at their houses at around 2 am today. The area is just around 2 Km from where the Kuki village is located in Churachandpur district and is heavily guarded by the Central Armed Forces including the Assam Rifles. Around 15 houses are located in the Kwakta Lamhai village ward no. 8 and the remaining are the Meitei Muslims families. The armed Kuki militants killed those Meitei villagers at around 3 am today morning.
“Those armed Kuki militants killed those Meitei people by shooting at them and later slaughtered them using daggers”, an eyewitness told Imphal Times.
The deceased have been identified as Yumnam Pishak Meitei (67 yrs) s/o (late) Yumnam Tomba Meitei, Yumnam Premkumar Meitei (39 yrs) s/o Yumnam Pishak Meitei and Yumnam Jiten Meitei (46 yrs) s/o (late) Yumnam Ibohal – all residents of Kwakta Lamkhai, Kwakta Municipal Council Ward No. 8.
The recent incident is a cause of great concern as the attackers were able to breach the buffer zone, between hills and valleys, manned by central security forces, said people.
The area around Kwakta has been tense in the past few weeks with incidents of firing reported between the tribal and non-tribal groups. The state government has posted police and paramilitary forces in the area to ensure the violence does not escalate.
“The three villagers used to stay in a relief camp but had returned to their residences at Kwakta on Friday after the situation had improved,” a villager told.
Soon after the incident, an irate mob gathered at Kwakta and wanted to head towards Churachandpur but was stopped by security personnel, police said.
“Three persons including one policeman were injured following heavy exchange of fire between state forces and militants near Kwakta on Saturday morning. The policeman sustained splinter injuries on his face. All three have been brought to Raj Medicity in Imphal for treatment. They are out of danger,” police said.