Suspected Kuki militants fired several rounds of gunshots at Hot Mix Plant located near Nongthonband Mamang Sekmai River Bank under the jurisdiction of Sekmai Police Station on Tuesday at around 12.30 pm.

As per sources, the gunshots fired from Phaileng Hills, Kangpokpi district hit the bunkers of the 4th IRB stationed at Hot Mix Plant.

Sand miners at Sekmai river fled towards Nongthonband on hearing the sounds of gunshots, sources said.

State force did not retaliate to the attack at first but as the attack continued, 4th IRB personnel, Imphal West CDO and Sekmai Police team retaliated to the attack late afternoon.

As the attack continued, police commandos approached the encounter site in the newly arrived bullet-proof mine protected vehicles and the vehicle bore several bullet marks from gunfire and snipers from the attack.

However, the bullets failed to penetrate the vehicle.  

Meanwhile, womenfolk halted Assam rifles personnel who came on a Casper around 4.40 pm from entering the area at Nongthonband Lamkhai.

Sources added that some village volunteers also reached the area to defend from the attack carried out by Kuki militants from Phaileng Hills but did not join the team of the state force.

The heavy firing has stopped but intermittent firing sounds were heard. No casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, our Kangpokpi correspondent reports that a fresh wave of violence engulfed Kangpokpi district on Tuesday in the Phaileng-Luwangsanggol area, situated on the fringe between Kangpokpi and Imphal West.

A barrage of mortar shells and bombs rained down on the Kuki-Zo villages from the valley area, engulfing them in a relentless crossfire that persisted until nightfall.

Although there is no official confirmation, sources claimed that at least two armed Meitei militants were killed during the crossfire, with no reported casualties among the Kuki-Zo volunteers.