IMPHAL, 3 Jun: At least 15 people were injured when suspected Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons and bombs attacked two villages in Manipur’s Imphal West district, police said on Saturday.
Personnel of the state police and the Manipur Rifles stationed at the two villages – Phayeng and Kangchup Chingkhong – retaliated, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted for more than four hours on Friday night and later pushed back the militants to nearby hills, the police said.
The injured have been admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and Raj Medicity in Imphal, where the condition of the two injured is stated to be critical, they said.
Reports of fresh attacks in the last 24 hours were also reported from Pombikhok in Bishnupur district, though no casualty or injury is reported.
A combined team of the Manipur Police, the Border Security Force and the Assam Rifles recovered seven bodies from Sugnu-Serou area in Kakching district.
The bodies have been deposited at the morgue of the JNIMS, police said, adding that they were killed during the gunfight that broke out last week in Sugnu after armed Kuki militants attacked Sugnu.
At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in the state that broke out a month ago, the government said in a statement on Friday.
A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps, said the statement issued by the chief minister’s office.
Insurgents exchanged fire with security forces in Chandolpokpi, Tangjeng, Pombikhok and Kamson villages in Bishnupur district on Friday morning, a police officer said.
Locals fled Tangjeng village after the militants attacked it. Houses were also burnt in Bethel village in Churachandpur district.
One house was burnt down by insurgents in Kangchup Chingkhong area in Imphal West district and a gun battle was fought with security forces, he said.
However, no casualty was reported in the incidents. (PTI)