Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam visited Kamjong border villages hit by KNA-B militant attacks.
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IMPHAL — Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, accompanied by six MLAs, on Saturday visited border villages in Kamjong district that came under militant attack, to assess the security situation along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The minister-led team visited Choro, Wanglee and Namlee villages, where suspected cadres of Myanmar-based armed group Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) allegedly carried out coordinated attacks in the early hours of May 7.
During the visit, Govindas also interacted with affected villagers, reviewed the extent of damage and held discussions with locals and security personnel regarding measures to strengthen security in the vulnerable border region.
The MLAs who accompanied the home minister during the visit are Ram Muivah (Ukhrul), Khashim Vashum (Chingai), Leishiyo Keishing (Phungyar), Th Biswajit (Thongju), Md Abdul Nasir (Lilong) and Th Arunkumar (Wangkhei).
Also read: Manipur CM condemns violence in Kamjong district
Sharing photographs of the visit in a social media post, the minister wrote, “Visited Nambashi, Kamjong District and had an interaction with the Shanalong (women folk) regarding the prevailing situation in the area. Their grievances, concerns, hardships, and voices were heard with utmost seriousness and compassion.”
“Assured them that every possible effort will be made to address their issues and work collectively towards peace, security, and the welfare of the people,” he added.
On May 7, more than a dozen houses were torched at three border villages – Z Choro, Wanglee and Namlee in Manipur’s Kamjong district in an early morning militant strike, forcing the villagers to flee towards the nearby hill ranges in search of safety. Two four-wheelers and valuable items were also looted during the incident.
Choro village is under Chassad Police Station while Wanglee and Namlee are under Kasom Khullen Police Station.
These border villages are located about 50 km south-east of Kamjong district headquarters.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand had already condemned the violence, adding that strict action will be taken against those responsible.
Six major student organisations in Manipur have strongly condemned the recent violence reported in Kamjong district and questioned the silence of both the Central and State governments over the incident.
Accusing the Myanmar-based armed Kuki militants (KNA-B) of carrying out a “cross-border invasion,” the United Naga Council demanded “immediate and decisive military action by the Government of India to neutralize the foreign aggressors and restore the sanctity of the international Indo-Myanmar border.”
Abducted woman rescued
Meanwhile, a Tangkhul woman, Olina Ningshen, who was reportedly abducted by the KNA (B) and Village Volunteers Eastern Zone from Namlee in Kamjong district was released south of Z Choro village close to the incident area on Saturday, according to Army PRO (Manipur, Nagaland and Southern Arunachal).
In sanitisation operations to prevent any further escalation, one armed cadre of KNA (B), identified as Lal Thag John (38), was also apprehended along with a weapon, magazine and ammunition during search operations in Churachandpur and later handed over to local police authorities, the Army PRO added.