Imphal, Oct 31 (UNI): A senior Manipur Police Officer Chingtham Anand was shot dead by suspected Kuki militants at Eastern Ground in Moreh on Tuesday.
An emergency meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister N Biren Singh was held in the Chief Minister’s Office. The meeting deliberated upon the emergent law and order situation arising in the state in the aftermath of the killing of Chingtham Anand Kumar.
After the incident, suspected Kuki militants also attacked police personnel at Moreh. Additional forces were rushed in led by an IG of Manipur Police. However, it also came under heavy firing by suspected Kuki militants. Heavy exchange of fire was reported in the border town.
As various Kuki organisations have stopped police movement on the highway, only a few police personnel were on duty in the border town.
During the last few days, Manipur Police personnel arrested about 11 Myanmar citizens who were involved in illegal activities at Moreh. After the 1991 Kuki Naga clash there was no Naga settlement at Moreh and after the Meitei Kuki clash which started on May 3 this year, all Meitei had fled away from the border town. Kuki organizations had blocked the national highway and the deployment of Manipur Police was not allowed to control the situation on the border.
The Cabinet noted that both sides of the ethnic conflict had been exercising restraint and peace has been maintained for the past one-and-half to two months.
While a sense of normalcy was slowly settling in, an MPS officer, Chingtham Anand Kumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Moreh, a resident of Haobam Marak Chingtham Leikai, Imphal was killed today in unprovoked firing by armed Kuki militants while he was on duty overseeing the cleaning of the grounds of Eastern Shine School for construction of helipad, jointly by State force and BSF. The Cabinet condemned the dastardly act in the strongest terms.
The Cabinet approved an ex gratia of Rs 50 lakh as compensation. A suitable government employment shall also be provided to the next-of-kin of the deceased martyr.
The Cabinet directed for launching a joint operation in Moreh and adjoining areas to nab the culprits responsible for the crime, and to continue the same till the culprits are arrested. Cabinet also noted that additional state forces had been detailed from Imphal for the purpose. The operations have since started.
