UKHRUL: Manipur Police has registered three First Information Reports (FIRs) following incidents that unfolded in the state over the past two days.
According to Manipur Police on Wednesday morning, huts located at a poppy cultivation site in the Thawai Kuki Hill Range (Mapithel Hill Range) were allegedly burnt and two poppy cultivators were detained. This led to an exchange of gunfire between armed miscreants of Tangkhul and Kuki groups, reportedly using sophisticated weapons. During the firing and ensuing scuffle, a few youths went missing.
In another incident, vehicles carrying around 21 Tangkhul civilians were detained at Shangkai village by Kuki volunteers along with local women, Manipur Police stated.
Early Thursday morning, the two Kuki civilians who had earlier been detained at Leingangching were rescued by police and security forces. They were handed over to representatives of Kuki SCO in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ukhrul, reported Manipur Police.
Simultaneously, the Tangkhul civilians who had been detained earlier were also released and handed over to Tangkhul civil society organizations. Sources reported that the detained Tangkhul civilians were looted of Rs 8,55,000 in cash in addition to jewellery, wristwatches, mobile phones and students’ educational loans.
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Later the same day, security personnel retrieved the bodies of two missing persons from the jungle area of Thawai Kuki Hill (Mapithel Hill Range). The bodies have been brought for further necessary proceedings.
These incidents led to the registration of three FIRs. Senior police officers have visited the incident sites and are closely monitoring the situation. Security measures have been put in place to prevent further escalation. The police have also appealed to all communities to exercise restraint and extend cooperation to the police and security forces in restoring peace and normalcy. Further investigation is ongoing.