The convoy of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, en route to tension-gripped Jiribam from Imphal, was ambushed by armed militants in the Kangpokpi district on Monday. A security person from Manipur Police and a civil driver were injured in the attack.
A video has now surfaced in which the sound of multiple gunshots can be heard, while a man shouts, in a panicky state, in the background.
“On June 10, 2024, the Advance Security Team of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Manipur was ambushed at K. Sinam village near Kotlen, Kangpokpi District on NH 37 (Jiribam Road) by suspected Kuki militants in which one personnel of Manipur Police and a civil driver were injured. Senior police officials and security forces rushed to the spot and rescued the two injured persons and evacuated for medical treatment,” Manipur Police tweeted.
“Further, the teams conducted search operations in and around K Sinam village in which several empty bullet cases were recovered and some illegal temporary hideout/ bunkers, suspected to have been used by the militants, were also destroyed. Further, additional security forces (State and Central) have been mobilized to neutralize any threats along the route,” it added.
The ambush comes amidst a backdrop of heightened violence in the region. The recent surge in violence began on June 6, after the discovery of the body of Soibam Saratkumar Singh, a 59-year-old Meitei farmer who had been missing for weeks.
The discovery of Singh’s body in Jiribam led to the torching of around 70 houses, including a few government offices, and hundreds of citizens fleeing the area.
The unrest prompted urgent calls for enhanced security measures and the right to arm themselves for protection.
Source Agencies
