7 security personnel injured in Manipur gunfight

7 security personnel injured in gunfight with armed group near India-Myanmar border in Manipur; Chief Minister suspects Myanmar-based "mercenaries".

GUWAHATI/IMPHAL

Seven security personnel were injured during a gunfight with members of an armed group at Chavanphat village close to the India-Myanmar border near Moreh in Manipur on Tuesday morning.

Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh said the unidentified gunmen could be Myanmar-based “mercenaries” belonging to the Kuki National Army (Burma).

A police official in Tengnoupal, the affected district, said four of the injured security personnel are Manipur police commandos and three are from the Border Security Force. Five of them were airlifted to the State’s capital, Imphal, and admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.

The exchange of fire started after local women tried to secure the release of two men who were picked up by the police allegedly without citing any reason. The police official said the extremists fired first.

The Chief Minister, who visited the injured security personnel at the hospital, said reinforcements had been sent to Moreh and a joint search operation by State and Central forces was being carried out to catch the extremists.

“We suspect the involvement of foreign mercenaries from Myanmar in the incident. The involvement of KNA (B) is highly possible,” he said.