IRB jawan killed in Manipur’s Moreh town even as curfew intensifies
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Imphal: An Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawan was killed in the violence-hit border town of Moreh early Wednesday, prompting the Manipur Home Department Commissioner to request helicopters for medical emergencies as well as airlifting troops and weaponry to the area.
W Somorjit, an IRB jawan attached to Manipur police commandos stationed in Moreh, was killed at roughly 3.25 a.m., the second Meitei police officer killed in Moreh in two and a half months. According to the authorities, Somorjit was stationed at an IRB post near the Kondong Lairembi Devi Mandir at the time, and the assailants attacked it with grenades, followed by a barrage of gunfire, Indian Express reported.
T Ranjit Singh, the state's Home Department Commissioner, wrote to the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday, asking that "air assets" or helicopters be stationed in Imphal immediately for a minimum of seven days, citing "emergency requirements" in light of the occurrence.
“The law and order situation at the border town of Moreh has become a matter of serious concern as there have been continuous exchange of fire taking place and this has resulted in the death of one IRB personnel this morning. In view of the prevalent situation, the situation may deteriorate further in Moreh, medical emergency may arise any time. Police Department has also informed that there is also need for airlifting of security personnel, ammunition, etc to Moreh,” wrote Singh.
Chingtham Anand Kumar, an SDPO with the Manipur Police, was shot dead on October 31 last year in Moreh, and on Monday evening, authorities arrested two individuals, Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, and alleged that they were "among the main suspects" in Anand Singh's death.
This arrest sparked discontent in the Kuki community, which makes up the majority of the mixed-population town, and a curfew was enforced throughout the Tengnoupal district, which includes Moreh.
Two Kuki-Zomi organisations, the ITLF and COTU, had also issued a joint statement claiming that the two men had been wrongfully linked to the killing of the police officer and declaring a 48-hour deadline for their release, failing which they said they would "not allow the one-sided communal government favouring only the Meiteis to function in Kuki-Zo areas."
The shooting of W Somorjit came after nearly continual tension in Moreh since the murder of Anand Singh, with attacks on the police commandos stationed in the town in the aftermath of the tragedy and villagers calling for their withdrawal, accusing them of being partisan.
