At least 11 suspected Kuki terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Jiribam district of Manipur on Monday.
Also, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers were injured in the exchange of fire.
As per reports, the encounter started after the suspected Kuki terrorists attacked a police station from two sides in Jiribam. The sources said that the attacker might have come to target a relief camp for internally displaced people set up next to the police station.
In a post on X, the Manipur Police said, “Today, 11th November, 2024, at about 3 pm, the CRPF Post located at Jakuradhor and Borobekra Police Station (located nearby), Jiribam District, were attacked by armed militants. The security forces retaliated strongly. Due to the attack, one CRPF constable, namely Sanjeev Kumar, sustained a bullet injury and has been evacuated to Silchar Medical College, Assam, and is under treatment.”
The terrorists possibly came in autorickshaws, a police officer from Jiribam told a media house.
This particular police station had been targeted several times in recent months, reports said.
After attacking the police station, the suspected Kuki terrorists spread out towards a small settlement in Jakurador Karong, one km from the police station, and began setting houses on fire, the sources said, adding they simultaneously engaged in a gunfight with the security forces.
The CRPF has sent reinforcements to Jiribam.
Meanwhile, the Kuki civil society groups in the area have announced a shutdown over the killings of who they called “village volunteers”.
The terrorists were carrying weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and AK series assault rifles, later recovered by the security forces.
Tension has been high in Jiribam for the last week when a fresh round of violence broke out in the troubled state.
Today, the suspected Kuki terrorists opened fire from the hills in Imphal East District, leaving a farmer injured. The attacks during the paddy harvest season have raised concerns as farmers are getting reluctant to go to their fields, officials said.
The state of Manipur had earlier witnessed a spree of violent attacks between the two major state communities – Meitei and Kukis that continued for several months.