Imphal, Feb 28, 2025, IANS

Imphal, Feb 28 (IANS) Amidst the return of looted and illegal arms to the police, suspected Kuki militants opened fire at a religious site in Imphal East district from adjoining hills, officials said. However, no casualties were reported in the firing, first of its kind after the promulgation of President’s Rule in Manipur on February 13 and beginning of surrendering of looted and illegally held arms to the police since February 21 following the appeal of Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. A police official said that the suspected Kuki militants started firing when people belonging to the Meitei community were performing rituals at Kongba Maru temple in Imphal East. He said that more than 10 rounds were fired from adjoining Wakan Hill Range in Kangpokpi district. Immediately after the incident, combined security forces including Central Reserve Police Force troops rushed to the areas and arrested four persons in connection with the firing. Irate local people from the nearby villages in protest against the firing blocked vehicular traffic. The arrested persons were identified as Lungousem Kipgen (29), Letminlal Kipgen (25), Satminlun Tuboi (24) and Thanggoulun Kilong (27), all residents of Kangpokpi District. Earlier, the attackers vandalised the Kongba Maru temple properties allegedly by the armed groups from the adjoining hill areas of Kangpokpi district. Kongba Maru temple is a place where the Kongba river starts, which is joined by other tributaries in its further course. Kongba Maru is situated at a distance of about 22 kilometers from Imphal city. Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla further extended by one week the time given for the return of looted and illegal weapons and ammunition to the security forces. He also warned that after the expiry of the fresh one week deadline "strict legal action would be taken as per law for possession of such arms and ammunition." Senior police officials said that till February 27 over 610 looted and illegally-held weapons, including many sophisticated arms and a huge cache of ammunition, were returned to security forces since the Governor made the appeal for the first time on February 20. More than 250 people have been killed and over 1500 injured while over 70,000 rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre had imposed President's rule in the state on February 13 after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned on February 9. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.