Fresh attempts to loot weapons in trouble-torn Manipur ahead of Amit Shah’s 3-day visit from today

Women protesters blocked roads near Sugnu to stop central forces from rescuing around 2,000 civilians from Serou village

Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s three day visit to Manipur from today, security forces fired in the air and lobbed tear gas shells to prevent an angry mob in Imphal East district from making a fresh attempt to loot weapons late last night, official sources told Northeast Live.

A mob tried to attack the Porompat Police station, the largest police station in Imphal East district. The security forces had a tough time in thwarting the attack, officials claimed. There are also reports of mob in the area actually succeeding in looting some weapons from other police facilities. Northeast live is trying to confirm these reports.
Meanwhile, women protestors blocked a road and prevented central forces from heading towards Sugnu last night to rescue an estimated 2,000 civilians from village Serou in the Sugnu area of Kakching district that witnessed a severe gun battle in the past 48 hours. The women withdrew the blockade after CM N Biren Singh and state BJP president Sarada Devi spoke to the protesters on the phone.

In the shootout between armed gunmen and security forces, two Manipur police personnel and one civilian are reported killed in the valley side while casualties in the hill side that falls in Churachandpur and Chandel districts are not known. Unconfirmed reports from sources in Churachandpur say several casualties are feared as a result of this intense shootout.

Situation in Manipur is tense with CM Biren Singh stating yesterday that 33 armed Kuki militants have been killed so far during the violence. The Kuki National Organization, an umbrella group of 17 kuki rebel groups currently on a suspension of operation agreement with the government, claimed none of its cadres were killed as they are confined to the designated camps.

Questions are being raised as to how fierce gun battles are taking place, leading to loss of life and property when 34,000 central forces are stationed now in Manipur since violence began on May 3. This figure of the number of central forces was given by the CM Biren Singh himself at a news conference last week.

Also Read : Manipur unrest day 25: 33 armed cadres neutralized so far, says N Biren Singh

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