Additional forces sent to Manipur's Moreh amid heavy firing between security forces and miscreants

Additional forces were rushed to Manipur's Moreh which witnessed heavy firing between security forces and miscreants.

A senior official in the state government said, "additional forces were rushed but women protesters blocked the movement of security forces after a report of alleged assault on two women. The state government is sending more forces as there are inputs that armed people from Myanmar have sneaked in."

Moreh, just 4 km to the west of Myanmar's largest border town Tamu, saw largescale violence on Wednesday and Thursday. A group of attackers set on fire at least 30 abandoned houses and shops on Wednesday, including the house of forest guard and forest office. Security forces rushed to the areas and dispersed the mob. Most people have abandoned houses and shops in Moreh, which is 110 km south of Manipur capital Imphal.


On Friday, a group of women protested outside the Imphal Raj Bhavan. Kwairamband Ima Keithel women thronged the area demanding convening of the state assembly within a week. The state government has said the session will be held in the second or third week of August.

The group in a memorandum to governor Anusuiya Uikey said no bullet should be fired on civilians, national highways should be policed and remain open, the Centre must within 30 days rebuild houses of victims in their original places and provide protections, apart from compensation to next of kin of those killed. The women demanded replacement of Assam Rifles with another central force.

The Kuki Women Human Rights Organisation for Human Rights, meanwhile, organised a protest against the violence committed against the Kuki- Zo women at the Wall of Remembrance site in Churachandpur. Thousands of women took part in the protest. The rally reiterated the demand for a separate administration.

In another development, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum alleged that the newly-opened Khongsang railway station was used to 'ferry guns and ammunition' with knowledge of the state government.