Manipur CM links attack on security personnel in Moreh to ‘Myanmar mercenaries’

Manipur CM links attack on security personnel in Moreh to ‘Myanmar mercenaries’

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday said militants from Myanmar were likely involved in the ambush attack in which at least five Manipur police personnel and two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were injured in the Moreh town.

The attack came a day after four civilians were shot dead in clashes between unidentified armed miscreants and locals in the Lilong area in Thoubal district.

Also Read: 4 police personnel, 1 BSF jawan injured in attack by militants in Manipur’s Moreh

“We have… established from various sources the involvement of foreign mercenaries from Myanmar, like the KNA-B and KNA-R (factions of the Kuki National Army),” Biren Singh said.

He said a large number of state and central forces have been rushed to the spot, and that counter-insurgency operations have begun.

Earlier on Saturday night, three commandos of Manipur Police were injured in a rocket-propelled grenade attack at one of their posts in Moreh.

Moreh town near the India-Myanmar border has been witnessing gunfights between security forces and militants since December 30 last year.

Also Read:Four civilians shot dead in Manipur in fresh violence, curfew imposed again

Manipur has been grappling with fresh incidents of violence lately. Monday’s incident that led to the death of four civilians prompted the state government to re-impose curfew in the Thoubal and Imphal West districts. The bodies of the four people are yet to be recovered.

The northeastern state has been gripped with ethnic violence since May 3 last year after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.