AR-militants clash in Mnp; jawan hurt

A security personnel was injured in an exchange of fire between security forces and suspected cadres of a Kuki based militant group in Manipur’s Imphal East district, bordering Kangpokpi district on Wednesday.
The injured jawan of the Assam Rifles was rushed to an Army hospital in Imphal. He reportedly sustained bullet injuries on his belly and is out of danger, a police source said.
The exchange of fire occurred at the foothill near Pukhao Shantipur under Sagolmang police station of Imphal East district which was severely hit by the recent violence with almost all the villagers displaced after their houses were torched during the violence. The source said that the exchange of fire erupted when the troops of Assam Rifles camping in the area rushed to the place after suspected militants opened fire toward the village.
A local source said that the suspected militants opened fire when some villagers went to visit their abandoned piggery farms to feed the pigs. Upon hearing the firing, troops of Assam Rifles rushed to the area. Upon seeing the troopers approaching the area, the militants initiated fire.
With heavy reinforcements from Army, IRB and state police commando force, the security forces launched a massive search operation to flush out the militants, the source said.
It may be noted that after the villagers strongly questioned the role of the earlier Assam Rifles battalion station in the area, another battalion of the paramilitary force had recently replaced the earlier battalion. In his daily briefing on law and order situation on Wednesday at DIPR office premises today, the minister said that the wounded jawan was out of danger. Except the cross firing, no other incidents of violence were reported from across the state in the last 24 hours, he said.
“It was the only incident reported in the last 24 hours. In the firing incident, unfortunately a rifleman of the Assam Rifles got injured. He has been taken to hospital,” the IPR minister said.
As part of the security measure that has been taken up, the minister said, surveillance was in full swing using helicopters, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure peace and safety.
The total number of persons evacuated so far during this crisis has reached 30,000, he added.
As many as 209 relief camps including those run by local youth clubs and CSOs were opened across the state and those sheltered were given regular medical check-ups and psychological counselling, among many other services.
The minister informed that the public continued to surrender arms and ammunition snatched from the police stations and security personnel by unruly mobs.
As many as 41 arms and 2921 ammunition were recovered today, taking the total number of arms and ammunition surrendered so far to 288 and 6700, the minister said. The number of FIRs lodged in connection with the recent crisis has also increased to 288 with 72 more FIRs lodged in the last 24 hours, Dr Ranjan said.
Around 100 Imphal-bound loaded vehicles stranded at various places along the NH-102 in Senapati district have also been escorted back by the security forces. The vehicles were expected to reach Imphal late tonight, he said.
The IPR minister further informed that chief minister N Biren Singh today personally visited the relief camps in Imphal’s Khuman Lampak Sports Complex and CRPF camp at Lamphel Complex.
The chief minister interacted with the people sheltered at the relief camps and heard their grievances. He also assured them that the government was always there for all the sections of the society and would render all possible assistance for their recovery and rebuilding. The curfew in almost all the districts was relaxed for six hours today and if the situation improves further, the relaxation hour will be extended, he said.
He also made a sincere appeal to different sections of the society to support the government’s efforts to bring normalcy in the state and show unity in such difficult times.