SUSPECTED militants launched fresh attack in the Kadangband area of Manipur’s Imphal West district in the early hours of Wednesday, police said. Militants from their hill positions in Kangpokpi district fired several rounds from sophisticated arms and hurled bombs at the low-lying Kadangband area in Imphal West district around 1 am, a police officer said. Village volunteers deployed in the area returned the fire even as additional security forces were rushed to the area to control the situation. No injuries were reported in the firing, the police said. The attack forced several villagers living in Kutcha homes to flee to safer places, they said. Huge cache of arms, ammunition seized: SECURITY forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition during search operations in Manipur’s Bishnupur and Thoubal districts, police said on Wednesday. From Thongkhonglok village in Bishnupur district, security forces on Tuesday seized one SLR with a magazine, one .303 rifle, one 12 bore single barrel gun, two 9mm pistol with magazine, one anti-riot gun, two INSAS LMG magazine, two INSAS rifle magazine, four hand grenades, one detonator, five anti-riot shell, ammunition and other articles, the statement said.

 

The security forces seized one anti material rifle (AMR) sniper modified with sight scope and magazine, two single bolt action rifle, three 9mm pistol (country made), one hand grenade, four MK-13T, and ammunition from Leishangthem Ikop Pat area of Thoubal district, it said. Meanwhile, police arrested a member of the banned outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (People’s War Group) involved in extortion from Mantripukhri Bazaar near Bengali crossing in Imphal East district on Tuesday. 

 

 

 

MANIPUR Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday while referring to the 20-month-long ethnic violence in the state said much effort has been made in this direction and yet much remains to be done. In his New Year message, the Chief Minister said that the start of a new one is always a time for reflection and contemplation and it is so for the Government machinery as well. “The year 2024 has been a difficult year for the state. With the law and order situation yet to bring comfort to the mind, thousands continue to seek shelter in relief camps and the homes of friends and relatives. My first and foremost thought goes out to them. Have we met their expectations? Have we succeeded in giving them hope for normalcy and return to the places they once called home?” The CM, who also holds the Home portfolio, said much effort has been made in this direction and yet a lot remains to be done.