Manipur News

From Our Correspondent

UKHRUL | Sept 13

The bodies of the five slain militants have been retrieved, says Thotreithing Chalamva, SDPO Kasom Khullen. The team was led by OC and 2nd OC of Kasom Khullen PS.

After filing FIR, preparation of inquest report and other necessary procedures at the Kasom Khullen police station, the bodies will be sent to JNIMS for post mortem and identification, added SDPO Kasom Khullen. While filing this report, inquest report for two dead bodies has been completed.

It may be recalled that a gunfight allegedly between NSCN (IM) and combined forces of CorCom and MNPF broke out in the wee hours of September 12 at Makan village under Kasom Khullen poice station, under Kamjong district.

As per the sources, the bullet ridden bodies were found in a hut situated in a jhum field about 2-3km away from the southern flank of Makan village. According to sources, 200 empty cartridges were recovered from the spot. The bullet ridden bodies of the five militants are yet to be identified since no one has come forward to identify them, informed SDPO Kasom Khullen.

Due to the dilapidated conditions of the road, the police vehicle -407 truck could not proceed to Makan village yesterday and the team was forced to return to Kasom Khullen. The team hired a Shaktiman truck and moved out again in the early morning around 4:00am. Because of this reason it took more time than expected informed SDPO Kasom Khullen.

Meanwhile according to a release of the outlawed RPF, the slain cadres have been identified as: Sgt/Maj. Richard alias Warepam Dinesh son of W. Nongyaijao from Kangla Tombi, Sgt. Lalloi alias Khundrakpam Sunil son of Kh. Sanatomba, from Leitanpokpi, Pte. Nanao alias Moirangthem Tomba, son of late M. Biren from Keibi Awang Leikai, Pte. Sinthouba alias Konjengbam Shyamsunder son of K. Nirmol, from Cachar Lakhimpur Khunou. They are all PLA cadres. The names include one MNPF cadre, identified as Raikham Jazo son of Nimai Jazo, from Nongdam village, Kamjong district.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 13

People of different communities settled around Sekmai area staged a sit-in protest today against setting up of an army camp at the paddy land of Sekmai area. The sit-in was organised by the Sekmai Protection Committee (SPC) and Awang Sekmai Scheduled Caste Development Committee (ASSCDC).

Later, a rally was taken out till Sekmai SDO office shouting slogan “Sekmai ge Loukol armyda piba yaroy (paddy land cannot be given away to the army)”

Speaking to media persons, SPC president, Angom Rajesh said that the army camp located at Leimakhong Military Station, Koreingei Air Field and Pallel Air Field at Kakching are trying to reset their camp at the paddy field located at Sekmai, Khurkhul, Kaingam and Kanto area covering 1800 acres.

Following an application to the Imphal West district commissioner by the Indian army on July 7, 2017 a survey was conducted by Sekmai sub-deputy collector (SDC) at the paddy land of those areas, he added.

The survey report submitted to the deputy commissioner said 900 acres of land is available to set up the army camp, continued the president.

ASSCDC president, Laimayum Kula Singh supplemented that they will not sell even a small land even though the government offers good price for the land as the paddy land are the livelihood of the people settling around Sekmai area.

The people of Sekmai area appealed to the government not to let the army set up their camp at the paddy land of Sekmai area.

They further said that if the government tries to invent the paddy land of Sekmai area by force, the people of Sekami will fight against it by all means.

The SPC and ASSCDC have announced that the people of Sekmai area should not use their paddy field for any other purpose other than farming.