Central forces deployed in Moreh, Manipur

Guwahati: The situation in trouble-torn border town Moreh where two state police personnel were killed on Wednesday remained volatile, with the Union home ministry on Thursday deciding to deploy Central forces by replacing the state police forces to pacify the situation. The local residents of the area, mostly Kukis, have been demanding the removal of the state police from the India-Myanmar border town.

The violence and clashes in the border towns led to a protest in Meitei-dominated Imphal and other parts of the valley, where a large number of women took to the streets, protesting against the killings of two Meitei police personnel and demanding more state security forces in Moreh. Security sources said a series of incidents rocked the state on Wednesday after the killing of the two Meitei policemen. 

In Thoubal, a district in the valley, the unrest escalated into mobs targeting the security establishments. In the past, too, violent incidents in sites of the conflict have been followed by attempts to breach security establishments with the intent to loot arms and ammunition.

A mob targeted the 3rd Indian Reserve Battalion in Khangabok, Thoubal, where they were pushed back by the security



forces. It also targeted the Thoubal police headquarters, where the police said that the mob had tried to “breach” the premises. As the security forces pushed them back, armed people from among the mob fired at them, the police said, due to which three BSF personnel got bullet injuries. The three personnel -- constable Gaurav Kumar and assistant sub-inspectors Sobram Singh and Ramji -- have been evacuated to a private hospital in Imphal for treatment.

The security sources said Thursday the Union home ministry had decided to deploy Central forces in Kuki-dominated Moreh. Indicating that the Central forces have been rushed to Moreh, the security sources said Army helicopters were used to deploy the Central paramilitary forces. 

Meanwhile, the security sources said armed militants killed a village volunteer early on Thursday morning in Imphal West’s Kangchup Range. Takhellambam Manoranjan (23) of Thiyam Konjin Samajing Leikai died due to the injuries that he sustained during a confrontation with the militants on Thursday, the police said. Another village volunteer, Wanglen Mongshatabam (27) of Chingmeirong, was injured in the crossfire on Thursday morning.