Imphal: Two special commando personnel were martyred and another five jawans were suffered injuries in the line of duty in a ferocious attack carried out by suspected Kuki militants with RPGs and sophisticated high caliber weapons at Indo Myanmar border town Moreh in Tengnoupal district of Manipur. Security forces retaliated to the attack and heavy gunfight continued till late afternoon in different parts of the border town.

The two commandos who lost their lives in the attack are identified as W. Somorjit from Malom Mayai Leikai and T. Saileshwore of Lamshang Akham of Imphal West . Somorjit is a rifleman of 6th Manipur Rifles currently attached to Special Commando, while Saileshwore is a havildar.

The other five injured are identified as ASI Sidarth Thokchom, constable Ngasepam Vim, rifleman Md. Kamal Hassan, rifleman Songsuathui Aimol and rifleman Md. Abdul Hasim. All the injured riflemen belong to the 3rd IRB.

The Bodies of one of the martyred Commando and other two injured personnel were brought to Imphal by a chopper. The lifeless body of the commando is deposited at the mortuary of RIMS, while the two injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

According to Manipur Police, on Wednesday early morning at around 3:40am, suspected heavily armed Kuki militants launched a violent attack at the Manipur Police Special Commandos temporary post located at De Khunai Resort using RPGs, sophisticated assault rifles and other high caliber weapons.

It was said that the suspected heavily armed Kuki militants attacked the temporary Special Commando Post from Ema Kondong Lairmebi Shrine Hilltop, which is situated nearby Chikim Veng some few metres away from 5 Assam Rifles  Key Location Point camp. It was also reported that the armed militants came close to the post just metres ahead and directly fired RPG rounds. One of the RPGs flew inside the post and exploded damaging portions of the hotel.

The attack was retaliated and a heavy gun battle ensued between the security forces and armed militants. Assam Rifles along with Gorkha Regiment also rushed to help the state forces and the gunfight expanded from one place to different areas of the border town.

Sources also said that several mortar shells landed at Moreh Police Station causing heavy damage to the structures of the station. Heavy gunfight between the combined security forces with the suspected heavily armed militants continued till late afternoon.

Meanwhile, around six houses and Mount Moreh Public School situated in Canan Veng of Moreh Ward Number 7 caught on fire during the gunfight. It was said that mortar shells landed among the houses and the school building. As gunfight was fierce, Fire Service Station of Moreh could not deploy its fire tenders to douse the fire. It was also reported that a fire tender vehicle from Myanmar’s Tammu arrived at the spot and tried to douse the burning houses. It is not known how the fire tender vehicle from Myanmar entered the Border town in Manipur.

Several videos of the gunfight and false propaganda is going viral on social media platforms. Some of the videos of the gunfight going viral shows Casper vehicles of Assam Rifles who were said to be rushing to help the state forces being overpowered by suspected armed Kuki militants. The armed men pointing their guns were shouting towards the Casper vehicles to return back. The armed men donning bullet proof jackets were also seen holding M16 like assault rifles.

Video of a woman, who is said to be from the Kuki community was seen lying on the road injured has also emerged. It was reported that she was reportedly run over by a vehicle belonging to the Central force.

Moreh for the last two days has been in a tense situation after the arrest of Assam Regiment  Ex Serviceman Phillips Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, the chief of K. Moulsang Village by the Special Commando team on January 15. The two arrested individuals are said to be the main suspect in the killing of Moreh SPDO Ch. Anandkumar.  Following the arrest, Curfew had been imposed in the Border town as a preventive measure.   On the other hand, the Court of  Judicial Magistrate Moreh  had remanded  the two accused  to Police Custody for 9 days.

On 16 January, Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal District and Kuki Inpi Chandel had issued an ultimatum to authorities concerned to release the two arrested individual within 24 hours, failing which would invite serious repercussion and the authorities will be held responsible for any untoward incident in the future. Kuki Women have also been demanding unconditional release of the two arrested and even warned  to shut down Government offices in Kuki dominated areas.

People of valley areas angered by the deadly attack carried out by suspected Kuki militants at Moreh carried out protest ralies and sit in protest. The protest rallies and sit in protest demanded the state government to send more state force reinforcement to Moreh and removal of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, who is also the chairman of Unified Command of Manipur government.

Members of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committe led by CLP leader, the former CM of the state Okram Ibobi met governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhawan in Imphal and talked about the situation in Moreh. The Congress members urged the governor to request PM and Home Minister to take up immediate action against the militants in Moreh.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday night, chaired an emergency meeting and throughly discuss on the prevailing situation in Moreh.

Till the filing of this report, it was reported gunfight broke out again after some hours of ceasefire.