Ukhrul, May 28: As per reports received from a reliable source from the Mayophung area and other sources, some suspected Kukis in the wee hours of Sunday morning burnt down around 10 houses belonging to the Meitei community in Gwaltabi area under Yaingampokpi Police Station, Imphal East.
Gwaltabi area is just a stone throw away from a Tangkhul village, Thoyee village welcome gate, sparsely populated by the Kukis and the Meitei community by Ukhrul to Imphal National Highway – 202.
Sources said that the incident started around 3:30 am on Sunday following which the Meitei residents around the district came together and retaliated, burning down at least 3 villages in the periphery of Yaingampokpi PS.
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Around 30 houses belonging to the Kuki tribals namely Phaimol village were torched. Around 40 houses in Twichin village, and around 10 houses in New village were also burnt down in retaliation. Ukhrul Times was not able to independently verify the facts at the time of filing this report.
In addition sources said that around 50 houses were burnt down in Gwaltabi in the wee hours. Among other villages in the area, 1 house in Sanasabi village, 1 house in Yaingangpokpi Shanti Khongbal, 1 house in Sabungkhok Khunou were also torched.
To check the google map location click HERE (Instruction: Twichin village and Phaimol village is located to the North side from New Village of the Google map on zoom out).
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On the other hand, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said the government strongly condemned attacks on unarmed civilians in the peripheral areas of valley districts. He said the government will uproot armed terrorists from the State.
N Biren while briefing media persons on Sunday said that the fight is between “armed terrorists trying to disintegrate Manipur and the State government assisted by the Centre”. Over retaliatory and defensive operations against the terrorist groups who are using sophisticated arms against the civilian population, around 30 of these terrorists have been killed in different areas. The CM also added a few have also been arrested by the security forces.
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It may be noted that the claim of Kuki Militant or armed terrorist groups involved from section of news outlets in the valley, as well as Manipur chief minister’s accusation is being challenged by the Kuki tribals and other news outlets as Tribal Village Volunteers defending their villages reportedly from the aggression of Meitei miscreants shielded by Manipur police commandos as reported by The Hills Journal.
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