Fresh cross firing in Ukhrul

After days of lull, a brief exchange of fire reportedly erupted at a Tangkhul village in Manipur’s restive Ukhrul district.
Sinakeithei (Sanakeithel) Village Authority alleged that the cross firing erupted when the villagers fired a warning shot upon observing armed Kuki militants crossing inside the territorial boundaries of their village on Saturday morning.
Media Cell of Sinakeïthei Village Authority, in a statement, said that on Saturday morning around 9 am, a group of armed Kuki militants crossed inside the territorial boundaries of Sinakeithei village at the southeastern flanks and crossed the Ihang River.
As they intruded in close proximity to the village, a warning shot was fired by the locals from the lookout bunkers at the southernmost part of Sinakeithei.
“A warning shot was fired to by the locals, who were stationed at the bunker, to deter the militants from further encroachment. The Kuki militants retaliated and there was a brief exchange of fire, after which the Kuki militants withdrew,” the statement read.
It added, “There are no Kuki fields in the area and there was no presence of civilians at the time of the incident.”
With tensions at an all-time high in the region, Sinakeithei were maintaining a zero-tolerance policy in spite of repeated incursion by Kuki into the territory jurisdiction of the village, the village authority said.
“Our village defenders are on high alert and prepared to respond to any perceived threats.
Any unauthorized entry by militants or civilians will be met with immediate action from our village defenders,” it added.
The villagers were fully committed to protecting every inch of their territory and its integrity, the statement reiterated.