In the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district, security troops and suspected Kuki insurgents engaged in gunfire on Wednesday morning, sparking new unrest in Manipur. In the gunfight, a police commando has lost his life. Reports state that the alleged Kuki militants opened fire and dropped bombs at a security position close to SBI Moreh. Retaliatory fire was fired by the security personnel in response.
Two days have passed since two persons in Moreh were taken into custody on suspicion of killing a police officer. Because of concerns about "breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity, and grave danger to human lives and property within the revenue jurisdiction of Tengnoupal," the Manipur government has implemented a complete curfew in the district. The curfew does not apply to law enforcement or critical services.
Tuesday night in the Imphal West district's Koutruk village, local volunteers engaged in gunfire with suspected Kuki terrorists. The firing was stopped by government soldiers in the center. PTI reports that Phillip Khongsai and Hemokholal Mate were taken into custody by the local police on Monday for the suspected murder of SDPO Ch Anand in October of last year. The police pursued and subdued the two after they opened fire on the security guards' cars. They were placed under police detention for nine days.
They were found in possession of one handgun with two live rounds, one Chinese hand grenade, 10 live rounds of AK ammo, and ten detonators, according to the police. Numerous women had demonstrated in front of the Moreh police station, calling for their "unconditional release". In violent clashes between the dominant Meitei and Kuki groups, more than 200 individuals have killed since May of last year.
