Five killed in gun battle at Jiribam Kuki militants slay sleeping farmer

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL,  Sep 7: Conti-nuing with their offensive and acts of terrorism, Kuki mili-tants once again killed a sleeping man at Jiribam early this morning.
Notably, on August 5, 2023, Kuki militants killed three sleeping men, all Meiteis at Kwakta Ward No 8, Bishnupur district.
Some well armed Kuki militants sneaked into the house of a farmer identified as Yurembam Kulendra (63) at Ningthem Khunou (Meitei) village, Jiribam at around 5 am today.
They shot the sleeping man on the head and killed him, sources said.
 On hearing the gunshot, the wife and the daughter of Kulendra managed to flee from the house and thus escaped the terror attack.
After killing Kulendra, the Kuki militants left the Meitei village in hurry toward Sejang Kuki village.
On their way toward Sejang, the Kuki militants, however, opened fire toward village volunteers Nungchappi.
The village volunteers retaliated immediately resul- ting in a heavy exchange of fire between the two sides.
Five men including four Kuki militants and one village volunteer were killed in the exchange of fire.
Even as the Kuki militants retreated, the village volunteers chased them and managed to capture/recover four weapons along with magazines and live bullets from the Kuki militants, said the sources.
According to the sources, there might be more casualties and injuries on the side of the Kuki militants during the gun battle which lasted till 9 am today.
Soon after the incident, a team of Jiribam district police and commando personnel rushed to the encounter site and assessed the situation.
Extra security measures have been put in place at different vulnerable areas of Jiribam district following the Kuki militants’ attack and the subsequent exchange of fire.  
In another Kuki offensive at Sugnu Napat, Kakching district at around 10 am today, two village volunteers sustained injuries.
The injured village volunteers were evacuated and admitted to hospital. Their conditions are said to be stable.
At around 10 am, Kuki militants bombarded Sugnu areas from Lalloiphai, Churachandpur district apart from opening fire indiscriminately.
Two village volunteers sustained injuries in the bomb attack.
Soon after the Kuki militants launched their attack, village volunteers also retaliated by firing toward the Kuki militants who were trying to advance toward Meitei village.
Heavy exchange of fire went on till 5 pm between the two sides.
On August 5, 2023, Kuki militants slew three sleeping men at Kwakta Ward No 8, Bishnupur district.
The victims were identified as Yumnam Jiten Meitei (54) s/o late Y Ibohal, Yumnam Pishak Meitei (70) and his son Yumnam Premjit (37), all residents of Kwakta Ward No 8.
After shooting the sleeping villagers, the Chin-Kuki terrorists hacked the victims with swords.