Alert MR and IRB personnel repelled suspected militants who targeted a Kuki village from neighbouring Thonglang Akutpa, forcing them to retreat and averting further harm in Manipur sensitive hill area.
BY PC Bureau
November 8: Security personnel contained an armed clash in Kangpokpi district of Manipur on Saturday evening, preventing any loss of life after an alleged attack on Songjang Pakhang Khul village. The exchange of fire ended with the attackers withdrawing and no casualties reported on either side.
According to police, the incident began around 5 pm in the village, which lies under Chalwa police station about 15 km to the north. A senior officer said armed individuals, suspected to be linked to a Naga militant group, opened fire on the settlement from the neighbouring Thonglang Akutpa village. Manipur Rifles and Indian Reserve Battalion troops immediately returned fire. The engagement lasted roughly 30 minutes before the group pulled back. Authorities later strengthened deployments in the area and said the situation was being closely monitored.
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Earlier the same day, unidentified gunmen had fired several rounds toward Songjang Kuki village from a nearby hill along the Imphal-Tamei road. No injuries or damage were reported, and district police reached the spot promptly. Local accounts circulating on social media offered sharply opposing versions of the morning events—one side alleging firing toward Thonglang Akutpa farmers, the other claiming an attack on Songjang Pakang by cadres linked to NSCN. These claims have not been independently verified by official sources.
The prompt response by security forces appears to have limited the evening confrontation and averted further harm. The episode comes days after a high-level state security meeting on 3 November warned that groups continuing to target civilians could be declared unlawful and face action under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Joint teams of state police, CoBRA, CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles and the Army have been conducting cordon-and-search and intelligence-based operations across affected areas.
In separate counter-insurgency actions in Manipur the same day in the Imphal valley, forces arrested three alleged active cadres of banned outfits. A joint team of Imphal East commandos, 31 Assam Rifles and 4 Mahar Regiment detained two claimed members of the Kangleipak Communist Party-People’s War Group (KCP-PWG) from Sagolband Nepra Major Leikai: 43-year-old Tekcham Ibomcha Singh, alias SK, of Pukhao Laipham Makha Leikai, and 30-year-old Jelish Nongmeikapam, alias Salaitaret, of Samurou Awang Leikai. In July, 46 KCP-PWG cadres, including their chief, had surrendered with weapons that included a rocket-propelled grenade.
In another operation, personnel arrested Thongam Ronaldo Singh, 29, of Arapti Mayai Leikai, Thoubal, an alleged cadre of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), from the Khurai Salanthong Bridge area in Imphal East. Police said he had been involved in extorting money from the public and shopkeepers.
These valley arrests form part of ongoing drives against militant activity and extortion. As of early 8 November, no further casualties linked to the Kangpokpi exchange had been confirmed, and security arrangements remained in place.
