Two individuals, including a personnel of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), were killed in an ambush carried out by unknown miscreants on Monday morning at Kharam Vaiphei, 5 kms north to Kangchup Police station in Kangpokpi district.
According to official reports, an olive green colour Gypsy with two individuals coming from Kharam Vaiphei village was ambushed by unknown armed miscreants at around 9.30 am near the village.
The two individuals Thangminlun Hangshing, son of Lunkhongam Hangshing of Khunkho village, and a 6th IRB personnel Henminlen Vaiphei, son of Luntinlal Vaiphei of Mission Veng Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district died at the spot.
As per reports, the olive-green colour gypsy did not have a registration number.
Gamnom Sapermeina Police station has registered a case even though the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Kangchup Police Station, as it is not yet a full-fledged police station.
A police team led by IG Zone-3 Nishit Kumar Ujjwal, DIG Range-1 N. Herojit and SP Imphal West Ksh. Shivakanta reached the 136-CRPF Post Kadangband Part-2 to follow up on the incident at around 2.15 pm.
Soon after the ambush, Kuki militants started attacking Koutruk Ching Leikai under Lamshang Police station by firing guns and bombs while the team of IG Zone-3 were still in Kadangband, according to reports.
All three bombs fired by the Kuki militants exploded. IRB personnel posted at Koutruk Ching Leikai also retaliated to the attack, said the reports.
Our Correspondent added that following the brutal killing, the Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills Kangpokpi imposed an emergency shutdown in the whole of Kangpokpi district, shutting down all business establishments and shops, and restricting the movement of vehicles for 48 hours.
The two dead bodies were brought to Motbung PHC where post mortem was conducted before a condolence ceremony was held at Motbung Community Hall as hundreds of Kuki-Zo people across Kangpokpi gathered at Gamgiphai to receive the duo with gun salute from the Kuki-Zo volunteers.
Later, the duo was buried at Martyr’s Cemetery at Phaijang village in Kangpokpi district.
Condemning the ambush and killing of the innocent Kuki-Zo, CoTU Information and Publicity Secretary Thangtinlen Haokip said that the heinous and barbaric action of the miscreants is very shameful.
Calling for immediate intervention in the brutal killing of the two innocent Kuki-Zo in another ambush, Haokip urged the Central Government to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
CoTU also urged the Central Government to instruct the authorities concerned to take up proactive steps to nab those involved in the brutal attack and killing while directing the authorities concerned to ensure no such attack and killing occur in the Kuki-Zo-dominated areas.
