Imphal: Three injured Kuki youths, whose admission to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal had triggered protests, were shifted out of the hospital shortly after midnight on Wednesday under tight security. Sources said they have been transferred to the surgical ward of Churachandpur district hospital.
While other Kuki patients have undergone or are undergoing treatment in Imphal, protesters from the Meitei and Naga communities objected to the trio undergoing treatment in Imphal, alleging that the three were militants involved in attacks on civilians.
Meanwhile, security forces recovered a cache of arms and ammunition and destroyed 30 illegal bunkers during intensive search operations conducted at multiple locations in Kangpokpi district on Wednesday, officials said. Police said the operations were carried out in and around Leilon Vaiphei, Leilon Khunou, L. Munlui and Konsakhul villages under the jurisdiction of Leimakhong police station in Kangpokpi.
The operation was carried out amid heightened tensions in the area, where recent incidents of violence have been reported between members of the Naga and Kuki communities. Items recovered during the operation included 11 single-barrel breech-loading (SBBL) 12-bore guns, 294 live rounds of 12-bore ammunition, two packages of gunpowder, 34 empty 12-bore cartridge cases and six bulletproof vests. During the operation, security forces also dismantled 30 bunkers, outposts and strategic camp sites located in the vicinity of the villages. The structures were reportedly being used as defensive positions in the area. Four individuals were detained for further verification, police said.
In a separate development, security forces destroyed four bunkers at different locations under Saikul PS in Kangpokpi district. They also destroyed an unauthorised check post and a bunker at S Nabil village and Loilamkoi village under Churachandpur PS in Churachandpur district on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, security forces destroyed a total of 26 bunkers and recovered ammunition-related items during separate operations conducted on Monday and Tuesday in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. Security personnel on Tuesday dismantled 14 bunkers, including five along the Mogkot Chepu–Patlijang hill stretch and nine along the Lungphu Junction–Industrial Estate Centre hill stretch. During the operation, two empty cases of 5.56 mm ammunition were recovered from the Mogkot Chepu–Patlijang area.
In a separate operation on Monday, security forces destroyed 12 bunkers, comprising two bunkers located along the Shangkai–Mongkot Chepu villages hill stretch and 10 bunkers along the Leingangching–Sikibung village hill stretch under Litan Police Station in Ukhrul district. Items recovered during the operation included a binocular, 21 empty cartridge cases of different weapons, and eight live rounds of SBBL ammunition.
