Imphal: Kuki militants opened fire at the Kongba Maru temple in Imphal East while members of the Meitei community were engaged in rituals on Friday. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties in this incident, which represents the first attack since the enforcement of President’s Rule on February 13.
The assailants fired more than ten rounds from the Wakan Hill Range in the Kangpokpi district.
A coordinated response from security forces, including personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), led to the arrest of four individuals. The suspects, identified as Lungousem Kipgen (29), Letminlal Kipgen (25), Satminlun Tuboi (24), and Thanggoulun Kilong (27), are all residents of the Kangpokpi district. In reaction to the attack, local residents expressed their anger by blocking vehicular traffic. Before the gunfire, the attackers reportedly vandalized property at the temple, exacerbating tensions between the communities. The Kongba Maru temple, situated approximately 22 kilometers from Imphal city, is an important religious site, marking the source of the Kongba river. This incident occurs against the backdrop of an ongoing effort to recover looted and illegally held firearms.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who has been supervising the surrender of such weapons since February 21, has extended the deadline for their return by an additional week. He cautioned that strict legal measures would be implemented following the expiration of this new deadline.
As of February 27, security forces have successfully recovered over 610 weapons, including advanced firearms and substantial amounts of ammunition.
