UKHRUL: An unexploded pumpi shell was discovered in Sinakeithei village in Ukhrul District, Manipur late Friday night after it allegedly landed during an attack believed to have been carried out by Kuki militants. The attack took place on the same day the Chief Minister of Manipur Y Khemchand Singh made his maiden visit to Ukhrul headquarters by road.
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According to local sources, multiple fronts witnessed active defense, with village volunteers and Indian security forces reportedly engaged during the incident. The shell landed at around 10:30 PM, barely 10 meters from a residential area in Sinakeithei, a Tangkhul Naga village in Ukhrul district. The ordnance did not explode, preventing potential casualties and significant damage to nearby houses.
Villagers reported panic following the incident, though no injuries have been reported so far. Authorities are expected to conduct an assessment and safely dispose of the unexploded shell.
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The incident has raised concerns over the adherence to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, under which Kuki militant groups are bound by specific ground rules. These typically include a cessation of hostilities, confinement to designated camps, prohibition on offensive operations, and a commitment to maintaining law and order in coordination with security forces.
Observers note that any such attack on civilian areas would constitute a serious breach of these established SoO norms.