Newmai News Network
Imphal: A large number of villagers, mostly womenfolk, rose up today demanding dismantling of illegal bunkers in the hills while a combing operation by a joint team of Manipur police and central security forces was in progress at Sinam, a village in Imphal East bordering Kangpokpi district.
A joint team of Imphal East district police, columns of Indian Army under Imphal East region (Red Shield Division), BSF, CRPF, Manipur Rifles and IRB conducted the cordon and search operation this morning.
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Around 100 houses were searched and combed the inter-village roads and bylanes of the village during the operation.
A police source said that one AK assault rifle, 20 live rounds of 5.56mm, one .303 rifle, two SMC carbines, one empty magazine of LMG, five bullet proof jackets, five khakee shirts and one pair of khakee pants were recovered during the operation.
While the operation was in progress, a large number of villagers, mostly womenfolk, rose up and demanded dismantling of the bunkers allegedly built by armed miscreants in the hills nearby their villages.
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According to the villagers, they are living with fear and apprehension as the armed miscreants suspected to be Kukis are seen staying in the bunkers built in the hillside close to their villages.
They also informed about the recent series of attacks by the armed miscreants descended from the hills to the villages adjoining their village while referring to Sunday’s gun firings towards Sambukhong and Sanasabi areas of Imphal East district bordering Kangpokpi district.
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The villagers alleged that even as armed miscreants from the hill sides were attacking the settlement areas in the peripheries, the Central security forces deployed in the foothills remained doing nothing to repel the attackers.
Today’s surprise operation, they said, was conducted while the village volunteers were on alert for a possible attack on the village from the hill side when they showed movement of a large number of armed miscreants nearby the bunkers.
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