Fierce bombardment continued to rage at Sugnu in Kakching district in Manipur with Kuki militants firing several rounds of bombs, gunfire towards the houses in the village from Lailoiphai and Dongyang areas in Churachandpur district on Friday.
According to sources, state security forces and village volunteers of the area have been repelling the attacks which have been escalating in the area. Exchange of gunfire is continuing between the two sides every now and then. The expanded attacks on Friday destroyed several houses in the area.
Bomb attacks by kuki militants in the village around 11 pm on Thursday severely damaged the house of one local, Y Ibohal alias Moirangningthou from Sugnu mayai leikai ward no 3, sources said. However, there were no reports of casualties till the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, a police team led by SP kakching including Additional SPs, Sugnu SDPO and OC also reportedly rushed and inspected the area and damage caused by the bomb attacks.
Speaking to the media in light of the continued attacks, one Yumlembam Nandini, resident from Sugnu mayai leikai expressed apprehension of the tense situation in the village. She said that the villagers are living in constant fear owing to constant unprovoked attacks by Kuki militants from all sides using sophisticated weapons.
She recounted the bomb attacks by militants on Thursday night towards the houses in the area, and said that luckily the locals escaped unhurt. She mentioned that Kuki militants from Lailoiphai had completely set ablaze and destroyed Napat village located across Manipur River behind Sugnu village.
The Kuki militants have occupied the said village and set up their bunkers, launching unabated bomb and gunfire attacks towards Sugnu, she stated. She expressed grief that the locals of Sugnu have been reeling under the terror attacks for around 10 months now.
Nandini said that the locals are shaken by Thursday’s attacks, adding that the sound of the explosions has damaged their hearing and they are unable to eat properly. “We are stuck between fears of dying due to starvation or getting shot by bullets,” she said. She urged the state government to look into the plights of the weary villagers at the earliest.
