Security forces have reportedly destroyed 21 bunkers in Manipur's Ukhrul district and seized 13 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the Tengnoupal district.
On Saturday, 14 bunkers were destroyed in Sikibung village and seven in Mongkot Chepu, both under the jurisdiction of the Litan police station, a release said. According to the departmental statement, all these bunkers were illegally built by armed miscreants. In another operation, security forces seized a cache of arms and ammunition in the Moreh area of the Tengnoupal district on Saturday.
A BSF constable hailing from West Bengal was recently shot dead after he was struck by a bullet fired from an unknown direction while performing his duty in the vicinity of Mongkot Chepu village, PTI reported.
Two 9mm pistols with magazines, two combat uniforms, and 13 IEDs were seized during the operation. The IEDs were destroyed on-site, the statement added.
In a separate incident, a five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister were killed when suspected militants hurled a bomb at their house in Tronglaobi, Bishnupur district, on 7 April. Soon after the incident, a mob of around 500 protesters stormed a CRPF camp near Gelmol, a few hundred metres from Tronglaobi, and engaged in vandalism and the burning of security vehicles. In the ensuing firing by security forces, three protesters died while 30 were injured.
The police arrested three suspected cadres of the United Kuki National Army during operations following the Tronglaobi incident. However, the police have yet to confirm whether those arrested were directly linked to the blast.
After a meeting with representatives of the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) and other groups at the state secretariat, Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh said last week that the government is in constant touch with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure an effective response and restore normalcy.