Imphal : Violence in North-East Manipur is not taking the name of stopping. A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed while two Assam Rifles personnel were injured in an encounter with suspected Kuki militants in Manipur’s Kakching district’s Serau area on Tuesday morning. Officials said that the exchange of fire between the two sides took place at a school in Sarrow area of Sugnu in Kakching district.
Firing on BSF jawans in the early morning
A BSF official said that suspected cookie miscreants fired indiscriminately targeting the BSF jawans posted at Serau Practical High School at around 4.15 am. The officer said that constable Ranjit Yadav was shot in this firing and he was taken to ‘Jeevan Hospital’ in Kakching, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Two soldiers of Assam Rifles injured
Indian Army’s Dimapur-based Spear Corps Headquarters informed on Twitter that two injured soldiers of Assam Rifles have been airlifted to Mantripukhari and search operation is on. The Spear Corps wrote on its Twitter handle, ‘Intermittent firing between security forces and insurgents took place on the intervening night of June 5-6 during a massive operation by Assam Rifles, BSF and police in Sugnu and Serau areas in Manipur. The security forces gave a befitting reply to the firing.
Encounter between security forces and militants in Phayeng
Heavy exchange of fire between security forces and suspected Kuki militants was also reported from Phayeng in Imphal West district, police said. Earlier on Sunday night, angry villagers set ablaze an empty camp at Sugnu in Manipur’s Kakching district, where United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) militants were staying after signing a peace deal with the government. Congress MLA K.K. The villagers were venting their anger after the militants torched at least 100 vacant houses, including Ranjith’s house.
Internet services suspended till June 10
Meanwhile, the Manipur government on Tuesday extended the ban on internet services till June 10. An order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash said that the suspension of mobile data services, including broadband, has been extended till 3 pm on June 10. This ban was first imposed on 3 May. At least 98 people were killed and 310 others were injured in ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur a month ago. Presently a total of 37,450 people are taking shelter in 272 relief camps.
Violence broke out on 3 May
Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The Meitei community constitutes about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and mostly live in the Imphal Valley. The tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hilly districts. About 10,000 army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed to restore peace in the state.