In the proximity of Maphou Dam police station, Kuki insurgents launched an assault on a gathering of Meetei sand diggers at the foothills of Keihao today, resulting in the incineration of three vehicles, one of which was a Mahindra Thar jeep.
This occurrence transpired approximately at 3:30 pm in the outskirts of Imphal East and Kangpokpi.
According to reports, a significant contingent of Kuki insurgents descended from the hills of Keihao and the village of Songphel Kuki, unleashing a barrage of bombs and bullets upon a cluster of Meetei villagers engaged in sand excavation at the Keihao foothills.
Shortly after the onslaught, the unarmed Meitei villagers hastily retreated towards Laikhong, abandoning their vehicles at Keihao.
Allegedly, Thokchom Chaoba, a JCB operator from Yairipok Yambem Mathak Leikai, went missing, with his mobile phone being discovered switched off.
Subsequently, commandos from Imphal East hurried to Keihao to salvage the charred vehicles and extricate the stranded JCB driver.
The missing operator was eventually rescued by security personnel from the K Nungmanbi region and escorted back to Laikhong village around 6:30 pm. Reports suggest that Chaoba took refuge under dense foliage and deactivated his mobile device.
Following the vehicular conflagration, Kuki insurgents indiscriminately fired projectiles towards Lai-khong village, leading to an extended skirmish with local volunteers lasting over an hour.
Later, at approximately 4 pm, Kuki militants bombarded Itham Moirangpurel, reigniting hostilities with village volunteers.
A squad of commandos from Imphal East swiftly arrived at the scene; however, the firefight persisted until around 6 pm.
No casualties were reported among the village volunteers or Meitei civilians.
Residents of Laikhong and its environs were relocated to secure locations.
According to sources, stringent security measures have been implemented in the surrounding areas of Imphal East and Kangpokpi district.
On February 6, Kuki insurgents also assaulted a group of sand miners situated between Nongdam Tangkhul and Tumukhong Meitei village.
Meanwhile, the Keihao Village Authority vehemently denounced the actions of Kuki militants encroaching upon their territory, which caused widespread alarm and psychological distress among the populace.
In a formal statement, the village authority reiterated their stance against the armed altercation that transpired at Keihao village on January 28, asserting their resolve to denounce any such untoward incidents and urging the Kuki militants responsible for today’s assault to be held accountable for all consequences.
