Manipur MLA Leishiyo Keishing urges deployment of three companies of forces in violence-hit Kamjong after deadly attacks and arson.
IMPHAL — Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing has urged the Manipur government to deploy three companies of state forces in Kamjong district to strengthen security along the volatile Myanmar border following fresh violence that left at least four people dead and 23 houses burnt.
In a letter to Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Keishing said armed militants attacked security personnel near Chassad village on Friday evening, triggering an exchange of fire.
He also reported subsequent firing and arson on October 10, during which 23 houses were allegedly burnt down.
According to the MLA’s letter, two persons, identified as Domkhonei Touthang and Michael Haokip, were killed during the exchange of fire at Chassad.
Of the 23 houses reportedly burnt, 12 belonged to Tangkhuls and 11 to Kukis.
The letter further stated that heavily armed militants from across the Myanmar border subsequently attacked Ningchou village, located around 15 km from the Kamjong district headquarters, killing two persons identified as Ngachanso Ningshen and Leishisan Leishadang.
Keishing said one company of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) had been dispatched from police headquarters after he wrote to the chief minister last month, seeking the deployment of three companies of state forces.
However, the incident at Kamjong-Chassad occurred on October 9 evening before the personnel could be deployed on the ground.
According to the letter, security personnel had gone to sanitise the Chassad cemetery after receiving inputs about “suspicious movement” when armed militants opened fire. Security forces retaliated, while a house belonging to a Tangkhul was allegedly set ablaze around 10.30 pm.
Firing and arson reportedly intensified again the following morning.
Expressing concern over recurring incidents of violence in the border area, Keishing urged the home minister to deploy adequate security forces to protect the lives and properties of residents.
Manipur’s five districts—Churachandpur, Chandel, Kamjong, Tengnoupal and Ukhrul—share a 398-km-long international border with Myanmar. Kamjong district alone accounts for 109 km of the border.