The fourth day of the coordinated and pre-planned attack on the Kuki-Zo in Kangpokpi's Saikul region ended on a bloody note with two deaths from the two warring groups and inflicting several others.
The Meitei militants killed one Kuki Village Volunteer at Changsang Hill in the Satang area in their third attack since February 10 while injuring another.
The deceased has been identified as Demkhogin Khongsai (39), son of Lhunkam Khongsai and Nengjakim Khongsai of J. Gamngai Veng, Saikul Hill Town while the details of the injured volunteer are yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers while defending the brutal Meitei militants attack managed to kill one of the Meitei militants and inflicted critical injuries on several others.
The deceased Meitei militant was identified as Sogolsem Loya (25), son of Sagolsem Ranjeet of Pukhao Santipur, Imphal East.
The injured Meitei militants were reportedly shifted to Raj Medicity, Imphal for medical treatment.
The Meitei militants had reportedly launched a series of attacks on the Kuki-Zo once again in the Saikul region this early morning.
Changsang Kuki-Zo village in the Satang area came under attack for the third time as early as 7 a.m. in the morning.
The Meitei militants then launched another attack at Saibol village in the Bungpi area in the same Saikul Sub Division later in the afternoon. No casualty was reported from the Kuki-Zo while several injuries were reported on the part of the Meitei militants.
Ambulances from the valley were seen having a hard time ferrying the injured Meitei militants.
At around 4:50 p.m. in the afternoon, the Meitei militants launched another attack in the Kangchup area near Singda Dam and this is a developing story.
In the Satang area, the Meitei militants even resorted to firing the Assam Rifles mending the buffer zones and reportedly injured one of the jawans, who was airlifted in a Helicopter.
Apart from these three fringes, the Khamenlok area in the Saikul region also remains in a tense situation for the past few days.
The Meitei militants' heavy attack in the Saikul region came against the backdrop of Saikul plunging into darkness following the sabotage of the power lines in the region on February 10 evening.
It was reported that the Meitei militants sabotaged the power lines at Nepetpalli Power Sub Station.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity prepares the burial ceremony of the Kuki-Zo martyr Demkhogin Khongsai at the Martyrs Cemetery tomorrow.
The Committee appeals to all CSOs, village chiefs, youth organizations, women's wings, etc. across the district to attend the burial ceremony to pay the highest tribute and honor to the fallen martyr.
According to the Committee, no heavy vehicles will ply along the National Highway during the burial ceremony which will begin at 11 a.m. while all shops and business establishments in the district will remain closed for the day.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128