Kuki militants continue to rain bullets at periphery villages

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 8: Kuki militants fired mortal shells and rained down bullets on Meitei villages in the peripheries of Imphal East and Imphal West district early morning today.
The militants fired on settlements at Keithelmanbi Meitei village and Moidangpok area under Patsoi police station from nearby hills at around 4 am.
The attack provoked retaliation from village volunteers. Both sides engaged in a gun-battle that lasted about 15 minutes. No one was injured in the firing.
In another incident, Kuki militants fired at Meitei villages located in the periphery area between Lamlai Assembly Constituency and Saikul Assembly Constituency yesterday night and today morning.
Sources said the militants fired scores of bullets at Sabungkhok village, Sanasabi village and Shanti-khongbal. Village volunteers retaliated by firing several rounds of bullets in the direction of the attackers.
There is no report of any casualty in the gunfight, said sources.
While the attack at Sanasabi and adjoining areas came at around 12.40 am from Koune and Natumching side, the attack at Sabungkhok Khunou in Imphal East came at around 4.30 am.
When the attack at Sabungkhok Khunou came, most of the locals had already taken shelter at a safe place. No one was injured in the attack even though the Kuki militants had fired many rounds of bullets, said a villager.
The villager said the intermittent and continuous attack on civilian settlements has put the lives of the locals at risk.
On the contrary to the Government's claim, there is no peace in the peripheries of the valley area adjacent to Kuki dominated hills, he said.
There may be peace in Imphal, but the periphery areas are still burning and facing daily attacks. No State leaders have ever visited the affected villages in the peripheries, he added.
Even after 5 month, the Government has not yet controlled the Kuki militants under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact, he said.
"Since May 3, SoO militants have attacked and killed many civilians violating the ground rules of the pact. Why has the SoO pact not been scrapped yet ? If the armed men who are firing at the civilians are not SoO militants, then who are they ? Why is the Government not taking any action against them ?" he asked.
Preaching peace on lips only will have no impact unless the Government takes up strict measures to control and contain Kuki militants, he said.