A Manipur armed militant attack claims the lives of two CRPF officers.
In a recent incident in Manipur's Bishnupur district, a suspected insurgent attack resulted in the deaths of two CRPF personnel and injuries to two others. Early in the morning, a group of alleged Kuki insurgents opened fire from a hillside in Naranseina village, targeting a central security force post in the valley region. The situation escalated when a bomb detonated within the outpost, causing severe injuries to four personnel. Despite prompt medical attention, two security personnel succumbed to their injuries, while two others are currently receiving treatment.
The incident occurs just a few days before the Manipur crisis' one-year anniversary, according to police sources. In the next days, militants who are holed up in the hills might launch more strikes. The deceased individuals, named as head constable Arup Saini and sub-inspector N Sarkar, were members of the CRPF's 128 Battalion. Inspector Jadav Das and Constable Aftab Das are the injured personnel. Following their election duties in the state, CRPF men were stationed in an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) base, where the attack took place. The camp is two kilometers from the hills, and the Upper Canal is about one kilometer away. This location was previously classified as sensitive because of the violence that occurred in Manipur last year.
Police say that a thorough search is currently being conducted to find the perpetrators. In recent months, there have been numerous gunfights in the area between Kuki-Zo and Meitei armed groups, which has increased tensions and bloodshed. The Kuki people live in the highlands, whereas the Meitei group primarily inhabits the valley. Both organizations identify as "village defense volunteers," but they have engaged in violent activities under the pretext of self-defense, thus the situation is still unstable.