Amid reports of fresh violence in strife-torn Manipur, the state government's security advisor Kuldiep Singh said there were intel warning of assaults by militants from Myanmar. He added that the state was also probing the incident where a viral video showed fire trucks from Myanmar dousing fire at Moreh amid a gunbattle.
The intelligence suggested that the People's Defence Force insurgents operating in Moreh with some reinforcements from Myanmar may attack state forces in Moreh. "However, there is no evidence that connects foreign parties to the incident," Singh said on Wednesday's gunfire incident which killed two security personnel.
This is despite the state's earlier stance that 'there was no evidence showing involvement of militants from Myanmar'.
According to Singh, the miscreants attacked India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel, resulting in an exchange of fire with the Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel in Thoubal.
The militants attacked commando posts at three locations -- Rich Hotel, GM Hotel and the SBI bank. The militants reportedly used advanced weaponery and was firing from close range. They only targeted Manipur Police commandos, firing RPG shells at the temporary commando post damaging several vehicles parked in the vicinity.
"The forces, including Assam Rifles, CDOs and the BSF were prepared for the assault. However, the attack resulted in serious injuries and caused the deaths of Commando Wangkhem Somorjit Meitei and 10 IRB personnel," Singh said. Assam Rifles and BSF supplied munition to the State forces to counter the attack of Kuki militants.
Following this, it has been decided that the three state police commando units in violence-hit Moreh town were unsuitable, making them vulnerable targets, Singh added. "After numerous coordination meetings, it was concluded that the units were positioned in the lower areas of the town, making them susceptible to attacks from hill areas. We have decided to relocate the units to higher areas of the town, where they can effectively counter the militants," he said.
Singh said additional reinforcements, including one company of BSF, two army columns, and four casper vehicles have arrived in Moreh. A helicopter from the Union Home Ministry has also reached the area, he added. "We have taken measures to ensure that all forces can collaborate and take action against the militants," Singh added.
The security forces have started combing operations in Moreh, the official added.
Four civilians dead
Four people were shot dead in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Thursday evening. The incident occurred at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou and the victims included a man and his 60-year-old father.
Quoting one person who escaped the shooting, an official said, "Five-six armed miscreants came when the labourers were tiling the farmland and shot them from point-blank range." The miscreants fled to the hill ranges from where they had come, the official added.
With these four, at least seven people including two police commandos were killed in separate districts of the state since Wednesday. One village volunteer was killed in a gunfight between two warring communities in Manipur's Kangpokpi district.
The shootout took place on Wednesday night after suspected militants launched an attack on Kangchup from the adjoining hill areas, prompting village volunteers in low-lying locality to retaliate.
