Imphal: Armed Kuki assailants reportedly launched a gun attack on Saiton-Watha Road in Bishnupur District on Saturday morning, killing a 39-year-old woman on her way to her paddy field. The deceased, identified as Sapam Ongbi Sophia, wife of S. Dayananda from Saiton Ward No. 6, was struck by gunfire allegedly from assailants who had descended from the nearby Dampi Reserve Forest.
The fatal shot, which entered her right abdomen and exited through her left armpit, resulted in her immediate death. She is survived by her husband and two young children.
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Following the incident, state security forces and village volunteers returned fire, joined later by Central Forces personnel. However, viral videos revealed frustration among villagers, who criticized the delayed response of the Central Forces.
In protest, enraged villagers and Sophia’s family placed her body at the 16 BSF C-Company camp located at Watha Lambi Primary School, accusing the security forces of negligence. They claimed that the usual BSF guards, who protect villagers working in the fields, were absent, allowing the attack to occur. The family has refused to claim the body until justice is served and the responsible assailants are punished. After intervention by Kumbi MLA and the Bishnupur SP, the body was sent for post-mortem at RIMS Hospital.
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