Gun-Firing in Sugnu: 2 died, 4 sustain bullet injury including security personnel, Two more Kuki villages burnt down

Attack on civilians and arsoning reportedly took place in presence of the combined team of security forces at Y. Thingkangphai and L. Thinglhangphai Kuki Villages in Chandel District of Manipur, about 3 Km from Sugnu Police Station, throughout the intervening night on 5 and 6 June, 2023, and tension is still high even today.

In a cross-firing incident, one Kuki village volunteer and a jawan from Border Security Force (BSF) died, and two village volunteers and two Assam Rifles jawans sustained grave injuries.

The BSF jawan who died during the firing was identified as Ct/GD Ranjit Yadav, 163 Bn BSF; and the tribal volunteer who died in the incident was identified as Ngamgoumang (30yrs) of Chehjang village.

The dead body and injured security personnel were brought to AR Camp, Mantripukhri, while the dead body of Tribal volunteer and the injured persons were brought to Lamka (Churachandpur) District Hospital.

From the ground report, it was alleged that the Tribal volunteers of Kuki Villages were driven away by the Security Forces in the name of security operations. Later, the radicalised Meitei militants such as the Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun and State Police Commandos burnt down Thingkangphai and Thinglhangphai, Kuki Villages in Sugnu Area of Chandel District.

A reliable source from the ground also allegedly revealed that the security forces were under the command of a Meitei Army Officer posted in the vicinity.

As per the video footage captured by the village volunteer, the Assam Rifles' Casper vehicles along with State Police Commando vehicles were seen moving towards the tribal villages, and began indiscriminate firing towards the Kuki-Zo volunteers who were guarding the villages -Thingkangphai and Thinglhangphai, from further arsoning by the Meitei armed militias. Eye witness on the spot said that the combined security forces were behind attacking tribal villages; and therafter, the villages were torched and burnt to ashes by the State Police Commandos.

In a tweet, the Army stated that extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF and Police was undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces and group of insurgents took place throughout night of 05/06 June. Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire, the Army said.

"One BSF Jawan sustained fatal injuries while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained Gun Shot Wounds (GSW) in general area Serou. Injured Assam Rifles personnel Air evacuated to Mantripukhri. Search operations in progress," Official Tweeter handle of Indian Army tweeted.

The BSF also tweeted that the jawan was killed during the exchange of fire between security forces and Kuki miscreants.

"Director General & all ranks of BSF salute the supreme sacrifice of Ct/GD Ranjit Yadav, 163 Bn BSF on 06 June 2023 while deployed at Serou Practical High School, PS Sugnu, Distt Kakching, Manipur.

Ct/GD Ranjit Yadav displayed conspicuous bravery, high degree of dedication & devotion to duty during the exchange of fire when suspected Kuki miscreants resorted to indiscriminate & heavy volume of firing towards BSF troops," BSF tweeted.