Kuki militants attack Meitei villages, bombard security camp, kill two CRPF jawans

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 27: Two personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) inclu-ding one Sub Inspector were killed and two others sustained injuries in a daring attack launched by heavily armed Kuki militants past last midnight at Naranseina Mei-tei village, Bishnupur district under Moirang police station.
On the other hand, Kuki militants opened fire upon a group of villagers at Kadangband in Imphal West today.
Kuki militants, armed with sophisticated weapons, came down from Khoirentak hill in the wee hours today and launched a fierce attack at Naranseina Maning and its surrounding Meitei villages by firing bomb and bullets indiscriminately, sources said.
Security personnel, both State and Central forces, deployed in the area retaliated by firing toward the Kuki militants who were advancing toward Meitei villages by firing indiscriminately
However, it was hard for the security personnel to establish the exact direction from which the Kuki militants were attacking them as there was heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning at the time of the attack, said the sources.
Soon after the attack, reinforcement of State and Central forces rushed to the spot and engaged the Kuki militants in a fierce battle. The gun battle lasted for almost one hour.
During the fierce attack, one of the bombs fired by Kuki militants fell and exploded at th western side of 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) complex which is currently occupied by personnel of 128 Battalion CRPF (B company).  
Sub Inspector Nasaruddin Sarkar (55) s/o Md Kabad Hussian of Bhomrabali village, Kokrajhar, Assam suffered multiple splinter injuries and he died on the spot.
Three other personnel also sustained injuries and they were evacuated from the spot for treatment.
Of the three injured personnel, Head Constable Arup Saini (41) s/o Ramakanta Saini of Panchal village, Bamkura, West Bengal who sustained splinter injuries on his stomach and right leg succumbed to the injuries on the way to RIMS Hospital.
The other two personnel who are undergoing treatment at RIMS Hospital have been identified as Inspector Yadav Das s/o Bhaben Das of Barpeta, Assam (he sustained injury on his face) and Constable Aftabul Hussain s/o Tamiz Ali of Nalbari, Assam (he sustained injury on his back).
Both of them are said to be in stable condition.
SP Bishnupur and other high ranking officers of State and Central forces have visited the injured CRPF personnel at RIMS Hospital.  
Two hand grenades fired/hurled by the Kuki militants toward the CRPF outpost which failed to go off were recovered from the spot and later detonated at a safe place by a bomb disposal squad this morning.
In connection with the deadly attack,  a regular FIR has been registered at Moirang police station.
Some other items including 145 live rounds, 197 empty cases, 32 projectiles and one walkie talkie set were also recovered from the spot.
Following the deadly attack, a combined team of State and Central forces launched massive search operations at Langching-manbi and Khoirentak areas and destroyed several bunkers built by Kuki militants on the hill range and also recovered some arms and ammunition.
After post mortem at RIMS, bodies of the two deceased CRPF personnel have been flown back to the their native States from Tulihal International Airport where floral tributes were paid to the deceased jawans.
Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh, ADGP L Kailun, IGP K Kabib, IGAR (South), DGP CRPF and other top officers paid floral tributes to the deceased jawans.    
Speaking to media persons after the wreath-laying ceremony, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh stated that the Government does not take the attack lightly and has launched an intensive operation to nab the culprits.
Kuldiep Singh emphasized that anyone involved will not be spared.
“Armed groups operating in the area are well-known, and the investigation is going on", he added.
On the other hand, Kuki miscreants opened fire at a group of villagers who went to collect woods at Kadangband in Imphal West, today.
The incident took place at around 2 pm.
Reportedly, the villagers went to collect woods as usual as they didn't know that some armed Kuki miscreants were camping in the area to launch a surprise attack.
Soon after the incident, village volunteers also returned fire
No one was injured in the attack as well as in the exchange of fire.