Imphal (Manipur): A Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Moreh was shot dead in an ambush carried out by suspected Kuki militants at the Indo-Myanmar Border town in Moreh of Manipur’s Tengnoupal District on Tuesday.

The deceased officer Chingtham Anand Kumar was overseeing the preparation of a helipad at Eastern Shine School’s Ground in Moreh Ward No. 7 jointly carried out by state force and BSF, when the ambush happened at around 9:30 in the morning.

According to Moreh police, a team of Moreh Police and BSF were preparing a helipad at the ground with the SDPO overseeing the work. The suspected Kuki militants started firing and the SDPO was hit by a bullet suspected to be fired from a sniper rifle on his back. The bullet passed through his stomach, critically injuring him. The SDPO was immediately rushed to PHC Moreh, however, he succumbed to his injuries.

As per report from Moreh Police Station, it was suspected that the ambush was planned for the Superintendent of Special Commando but accidentally SDPO Anand became the target.

After the incident, a combined team of State and Central Forces carried out a massive combing operation in Moreh to apprehend the culprits. It was also reported that exchange of gunfire took place between the combined security forces and the suspected Kuki militants during the combing operation. Till filing of the news there is no report of further casualties on both sides and arrest being made in connection with the ambush. However, it is feared that the assailants might have slipped into Myanmar after carrying out the ambush.

On the other hand, three personnel of Manipur Police suffered injuries  after suspected Kuki militants ambushed the additional state forces who were rushed to Moreh to assist in carrying out an even bigger search operation to arrest the culprits.

According to police, an additional team of state forces led by IGP Zone 1 Themthing Ngasemba, DIG Range 2 Jogesh chandra Haobijam as reinforcement began to rush towards Moreh at around 2 pm afternoon. However, the team was ambushed at Senam area along National Highway 102 Pallel Moreh road, a few kilometers before reaching Tengnoupal District Headquarter(Moreh is around 38 kilometers away from Tengnoupal DHQ) with automatic rifles and mortars.

The additional forces engaged in a fierce gunfight with the suspected Kuki militants. In the gunfight three personnel of Manipur police sustained bullet injuries. The injured were immediately taken to Raj Medicity hospitals and are undergoing treatment. It was reported that many of the state force vehicles also suffered damages. The gunfight continued till late afternoon.

The incident comes weeks after several civil society organizations, particularly those based in Moreh, demanded the removal of state forces from the border town. For several weeks Kuki women in Moreh town had been blocking roads to prevent additional state forces from coming towards the border town. Some of the Manipur Police commandos were staying at the KLP Assam Rifles camp near Moreh due to the road blockage before Tuesday's incident.

Some days back, the Moreh Police had arrested more than 10 Myanmarese in the last couple of days for allegedly stealing furniture and other household items from abandoned residences of Meiteis and for illegally entering into Indian territory.

The body of Anand Kumar, the SDPO of Moreh was brought to Imphal by a chopper and was immediately taken to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Porompat, Imphal East. The body was deposited at the mortuary of the hospital for postmortem. A team of high ranking police officials also met the family members of the slain cop.

On the other hand, the state government had planned a state level ceremony to pay final respect to the officer at 1st Manipur Rifles Complex at 3 pm. However, the planned ceremony was not carried out and the reason for the cancellation was not made public.

 “As a father it is painful to lose a son, however, all the sadness is gone as my son gave up his life for the sake of the people”, said Chingtham Kunjabihari, the father of the slain SDPO Ch. Anand Kumar.

Expressing anger over the BJP led government; he said “the government’s inability to send state forces to Moreh shows how weak the Chief Minister N.Biren Singh led government is”.

The Cop’s father also said that his son was a responsible police officer and is a decorated officer with the President's Police Medal for Gallantry. “Kuki militants attacking unarmed police and killing them is an act of terrorist”, he added.

A Joint Action Committee against the cold blooded killing of Ch. Anand Singh, SDPO Moreh By Chin Kuki Narco Terrorist was formed and is going to launch several movements for justice. The JAC after talking with the family members has decided not to take the body of the deceased SPDO for now. The SDPO is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.