GUWAHATI: A Manipur police commando was killed while three other personnel were injured in a militant attack in the India-Myanmar border town of Moreh on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Wangkhem Somorjit. He hailed from Malom in the Imphal West district.
The attack was perpetrated in the early morning, the police said.
“…armed militants orchestrated a violent attack on the State forces, employing firearms and explosives in Moreh, Tengnoupal district. In the incident, one personnel of 6th Manipur Rifles namely Wangkhem Somorjit Meetei…was martyred in the line of duty, while 03 (three) police personnel sustained injuries. Security forces are presently engaging (with) the inimical elements,” the police wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The militants fired shots as well as rocket-propelled grenades near the SBI Moreh branch. The attack ensued a gunfight which lasted several hours.
Videos went viral on social media showing a building, purportedly a school in Moreh, on fire. The details were not available.
Moreh has remained tense for the past three days after the police arrested two persons, both Kukis, suspecting their involvement in the killing of a sub-divisional police officer on October 31 last year. A total curfew has remained in force in the town from the midnight of January 15.
Meanwhile, the state government has sought a helicopter from the Centre to meet emergency requirements.
In a letter to the ministry of home affairs (MHA), the home department of Manipur said the law and order situation in Moreh had become a matter of serious concern as there had been continuous exchange of fire.
The Manipur government said the situation might deteriorate further and the likelihood of a medical emergency.
“It is, therefore, requested that MHA may kindly provide MHA Air Asset (Helicopter) to the State Government and place it at Imphal immediately from today, 17.01.2024 onwards for at least a period of 7 days to meet the emergency requirements,” the letter read.
The region has been grappling with ethnic violence since May 3 of the previous year, resulting in approximately 200 casualties and displacing over 60,000 people.