Imphal: Manipur's border town of Moreh witnessed a series of violent incidents on Sunday, ranging from a daytime ambush targeting a police convoy to a nighttime rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) assault on police commando barracks.
The turmoil commenced with an ambush on special police commandos stationed near a significant location point of the Assam Rifles. This initial attack resulted in one commando sustaining injuries during the daylight hours.
Later in the night at 11:40 pm, the situation intensified dramatically as suspected Kuki insurgents launched an RPG at a police barrack and initiated heavy gunfire directed at the police camp.
During the ensuing confrontation, police commandos retaliated, engaging in a prolonged gunfight throughout the night. The assault caught the commandos off guard as they were preparing to retire for the night. The exchange of gunfire left four commandos injured in the RPG attack.
The aftermath of the assault on the barracks revealed shrapnel damage on the walls, indicating the intensity of the attack. The injured commandos received immediate medical attention at the Assam Rifles' medical facility in Moreh.
A police commando present at the site where the RPG was launched pointed out the impact point where the projectile penetrated, indicating the severity of the attack.
Meanwhile, the Kuki group Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) released a statement alleging the arrest and subsequent torture of a Moreh resident, Peter Mate, by the police. According to the ITLF, Mate, a local school teacher and youth secretary of St. George Catholic Church, was apprehended during the gunfight on Saturday evening while he was on his way home.
In a separate incident in the state capital of Imphal, students staged protests following the discovery of a bomb at Princeton International School.
The incidents in Moreh have sparked concerns about the escalating violence and the safety of the region, as tensions remain high amid ongoing security challenges.