Moreh under siege : Kuki militants gun down two IRB men, injure three others

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 17 : Heavily armed Kuki militants based in India and Myanmar launched their fiercest attack ever in the early morning today on the State security forces killing two personnel and injuring three others at Moreh.
The two personnel of the State security forces "martyred" have been identified as Wangkhem Somorjit (35), son of (L) Chaoton of Malom Mayai Leikai, and Takhellambam Saileshwore (38), son of (L) Babu of Lamsang Akham.
Both of them were hit by suspected sniper bullets, said sources.
Wangkhem Somorjit was a personnel of the 5th IRB attached to Special Commando Moreh. His remains have reached Imphal and have been deposited at RIMS morgue.
Takhellambam Saile-shwore was a Havildar in the IRB attached to Special Commando. His remains are likely to be flown to Imphal tomorrow morning.
The three injured personnel have been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Sidarth Thokchom (35) son of Bocha of Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai, Ngasepam Vim (35) son of Tikendro of Chingkhu Pangei and Md Kamal Hassan son of Md Saukat of Sangaiyumpham.
Even as the personnel of the State security forces were facing heavy fire from different directions, a convoy of the Assam Rifles including a Casspir vehicle which were coming to the incident sites were forced to make a U-turn at gunpoint by the armed Kuki militants, said sources.
The armed Kuki militants launched the attack in the early morning today. They reportedly rained down bullets and fired sophisticated warheads including rocket propelled grenades and other explosives, which killed the two and injured three other personnel.
This fresh attack on the security forces is suspected to be a response to the recent arrests of two militants accused of killing Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anandkumar.
SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar was shot and killed on October 31, 2023.
Hemkholal Mate, chief of K Moulsang Village and Philip Khaikholal Khongsai, an ex-Army man were arrested on January 15 on the charge of killing the senior police officer.
The fresh attack on the security forces came at around 3.15 am today.
The armed Kuki militants based in Moreh and Myanmar first attacked a post of the India Reserved Battalion located near Ima Kondong Lairembi, a Temple of the Meiteis.
The security forces stationed at the post returned fire and an intense gunfight ensued.
In the attack, explosives fired by armed Kuki militants fell in a civilian area and exploded setting on a fire a school and houses nearby.
Many houses at Canaan Veng, Ward No 1, Ward No 2 and Ward No 3 have been gutted in the attack on security forces from different directions, said sources.
In what seems to be a coordinated and well planned attack, another group of armed Kuki militants fired rocket propelled grenades on Special Commandos stationed at a temporary camp set up at D Khunai Hotel.
The indiscriminate firing and RPG shells hit and damaged some portions of the building and an electric generator kept on the ground floor.
The attack injured Md Kamal Hassan, a personnel of the India Reserved Battalion attached to Special Commando. He received some minor injuries. He was evacuated to the Military hospital unit at Assam Rifles KLP (Key Location Point) and discharged after first aid.
Later at around 9.20 am, armed Kuki militants attacked a vehicle of the Special Commando using bombs and firing indiscriminately.
In the attack, a sniper bullet hit Wangkhem Somorjit on his neck. He was rushed to 5 Assam Rifle Military Unit Hospital at KLP but succumbed to the bullet injury.
In a similar attack in a nearby area, two personnel of the IRB attached to Special Commando sustained injuries when armed Kuki militants fired indiscriminately using Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Sidarth Thokchom sustained splinter injuries on his right cheek and both ears.
Ngasepam Vim sustained splinter injuries on his left leg.
The two personnel were rushed to 5 Assam Rifle Unit Hospital KLP for treatment and after giving treatment, they were airlifted to Imphal for treatment along with the lifeless body of W Somorjit.
Even as the chopper was preparing to evacuate the injured personnel and remains of W Somorjit, it came under heavy fire from armed Kuki volunteers and militants.
After trying for more than 3 hours, the chopper took off at around 2.20 pm from KLP Moreh and landed at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport sometime later.
From the airport, the two injured personnel and the lifeless body of W Somorjit were taken to RIMS Hospital, Lamphel.
The remains of W Somorjit have been deposited at RIMS Morgue for postmortem.
According to one security personnel, who accompanied the injured personnel, the armed Kuki militants used sophisticated weapons like Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, bombs, several Sniper Rifles and other long range assault rifles in the attack on the State security forces.
Sources said, amid the intense firing, a woman who allegedly jumped in front of a speeding vehicle of the security forces in a bid to block its path was knocked down.
Sources said the woman is suspected to be the mother of Hemkholal Mate, chief of the K Moulsang Village who was arrested by security forces with arms and ammunition on January 15 in connection with the assassination of SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar.
Even as the State security forces were facing heavy fire from different directions in several locations, personnel of Assam Rifles who were coming to the incident sites were stopped on their way, said sources.
The Assam Rifles convoy including a Casspir vehicle were forced to make a U-turn on gunpoint by the armed Kuki militants, said sources.
The incident with the Assam Rifles happened at T Yangnom village, located some 500 meters from Moreh police station.
When Assam Rifles personnel retaliated by firing towards Kuki militants, it also came under heavy attack from Kuki militants suspectedly taking position in Chavanphai village.
Later at around 3 pm, Takhellambam  Saileshwore, Havildar of the IRB attached to Special Commando, was hit by a suspected sniper bullet. He succumbed to his injury at 5 Assam Rifles unit Hospital at KLP.
His remains are likely to be flown to Imphal tomorrow morning.
On the other hand, a large number of unruly mobs holding sticks and stones blocked the Asian Highway Imphal-Moreh road by placing big rocks and other heavy objects on the road   when a reinforcement team of Assam Rifles Pallel post and Tengnoupal were heading towards Moreh.
The road is still shut preventing the movement of Assam Rifles at Tengnoupal, said a report received at the time of filing this report late in the evening at around 8.25 pm.
Meanwhile, sources said, some high level officers of the Assam Rifles have reached Moreh in a helicopter to look into the situation in Moreh.
Heavy security measures have been taken up and security personnel are on high alert in vulnerable areas of Moreh to encounter further attacks of Kuki militants. The situation in the town remains tense, said sources.
A late night report said, armed Kuki militants fired explosives at Moreh IB near Moreh police station.
Attacks on security forces in Moreh have killed at least 3 security personnel including SDPO Anandkumar and injured more than 18 personnel.
Late in the evening at around 10, sources said at least three BSF men and one personnel of Special Commando have been hurt in attacks in Moreh. The Sangai Express couldn't independently verify the claim.
Another source said Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs were engage in a meeting since afternoon on the development in Moreh.