Personnel of Manipur Police Commando and 7th MR reportedly exchanged heavy gunfire with Kuki militants at Kadangband Part-I, Kangchup Chingkhong and Thongkhong under Kangchup Police Station in Imphal West in the wee hours of Sunday.
Around 12.23 am, Kuki militants opened fire and launched an attack at Kadangband Part-I from Geljang village, as per the sources. The 7th MR personnel who were stationed at a community hall retaliated by firing upon the militants, it said.
Also Read: Manipur Unrest: CM Biren declares ‘joint operations’
SP Imphal West S Ibomcha, who was on his way to conduct a spot inquiry at Phayeng concerning the killing of a youth at freedom hills by Kuki militants, heard about the attack and came towards the battlezone, the sources said.
His team climbed towards Singda Water Supply and started firing towards the militants. On realising that Police Commandos were firing towards them, the militants started running around their bunker at Geljang village.
Also Read: Four dead, 12 injured in Sugnu firing
As the CDO personnel continued firing towards the direction of the militants, they abandoned their bunker and fled, as per sources.
The police commando came down from the hill around 8 am, it said.
Later, firing and torching of houses reportedly took place at Kangchup Chingkhong and Thongkhong around 10 am.
The enraged villagers from Phayeng set ablaze a house at Kangchup Chingkhong and a school located near Thongkhong. In response, Kuki militants started firing down towards the village with automatic guns.
In the meantime, womenfolk came out and blocked the roads at various spots along Uripok Kangchup Road to stop the Central Forces from entering the area.
Also Read: Six die, several hurt in firing by Kuki militants; enraged mobs take to streets in Manipur
