Manipur Police officer shot dead by Kuki militants at Moreh, Cabinet condemns

Imphal: A senior Manipur Police Officer Chingtham Anand was shot dead by suspected Kuki militants at Eastern Ground in Moreh on Tuesday.

An emergency meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister N Biren Singh was held in the Chief Minister’s Office.

The meeting deliberated upon the emergent law and order situation arising in the State in the aftermath of the killing of Chingtham Anand Kumar, MPS, SDPO, Moreh.

After the incident, suspected Kuki militants also attacked police personnel at Moreh.

Additional forces were rushed in led by an IG of Manipur Police.

However, it also came under heavy firing by suspected Kuki militants.

Heavy exchange of fire was reported in the border town.

As various Kuki organizations have stopped the movement of police on the highway, only few police personnel were on duty in the border town.

During the last few days Manipur Police personnel had arrested about 11 Myanmar citizens who were involved in illegal activities at Moreh.

After the 1991 Kuki Naga clash there was no Naga settlement at Moreh and after the Meitei Kuki clash which started on 3 May 2023 all Meitei had fled away from the border town. Kuki organizations had blocked the national highway and deployment of Manipur Police was not allowed to control the situation in the border.

The Cabinet noted that both sides of the ethnic conflict had been exercising restraint and peace has been maintained for the past one-and-half to two months.

While a sense of normalcy was slowly settling in, an MPS officer, Chingtham Anand Kumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Moreh, a resident of Haobam Marak Chingtham Leikai, Imphal was killed today in unprovoked firing by armed Kuki militants while he was on duty overseeing the cleaning of the grounds of Eastern Shine School for construction of helipad, jointly by State force and BSF. The Cabinet condemned the dastardly act in strongest terms.

The Cabinet approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 50 lakh as compensation . A suitable government employment shall also be provided to the next-of-kin of the deceased martyr.

The Cabinet directed for launching a joint operation in Moreh and adjoining areas to nab the culprits responsible for the crime, and to continue the same till the culprits are arrested. Cabinet also noted that additional State forces have been detailed from Imphal for the purpose. The operations have since started.

The Cabinet further directed that the Central and State forces shall ensure free movement of transportation and general public along Pallel-Moreh road on NH-102.

It was further decided that no illegal armed personnel shall be permitted in or around Moreh, considering the strategic position of Moreh town under India’s Act East Policy.

Cabinet noted that an organization named the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) had issued a press release on 24.10.2023 calling upon the Kuki-Zo community that during this November, before the harvesting season, the community will face another war; and arms and ammunition should therefore be in sufficient stock.

It further informed that the youth volunteers would be the ones going to face the war on the frontlines, and that its national army / UG groups will join the youth volunteers only in critical situations, citing that this would be because Kuki National army / UG groups would not be able to join the war freely in view of SOO agreement. It further informed that its national volunteers shall be equipped with the best arms and if required, ammunition will be supplied without limit.

The Cabinet noted that an FIR has already been lodged against the organization yesterday. In view of today’s incident leading to killing of a senior police officer, the Cabinet therefore approved to also recommend for declaration of the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC), as an unlawful association/organization under section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Meanwhile, the situation was tense at Singjamei, the residence of the slain police officer. Sit-in-protests were staged which was participated by a large number of people. (UNI)