Suspected militants launched a fresh assault on the Kadangband area of Imphal West district in the early hours of Wednesday, firing several rounds from sophisticated firearms and throwing bombs, police said.
The attack prompted several villagers residing in the low-lying area to flee to safer locations, though no injuries were reported.
The assault occurred hours after Chief Minister N Biren Singh issued an apology for the ongoing violence in the state, calling for reconciliation and promising to restore peace in the coming year. Singh had urged citizens to “forgive and forget”.
The militants, positioned in the hills of neighbouring Kangpokpi district, initiated the attack around 1 am, using advanced weaponry and explosives. Police said local volunteers stationed in the area returned fire, while additional security forces were dispatched to the site to maintain order.
Kadangband has been a frequent target of militant attacks since ethnic violence erupted in the state in May 2023.
In a parallel development, security forces seized a substantial cache of arms and ammunition during search operations across Bishnupur and Thoubal districts.
The haul included an SLR with a magazine, a .303 rifle, a 12-bore single barrel gun, two 9mm pistols with magazines, an anti-riot gun, two INSAS LMG magazines, two INSAS rifle magazines, four hand grenades, one detonator, five anti-riot shells, and additional munitions.
Read more: Manipur CM apologises for violence, hopes normalcy in 2025
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Singh reflected on the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities, which began in May 2023, leaving over 250 dead and thousands homeless.
He expressed hope that the relative peace seen in the past three to four months would help restore normalcy in the state.
“I want to say sorry for what happened in the state. Many people lost their loved ones and many had to leave their homes. I regret and want to apologise. But after seeing relative peace in the last 3-4 months, I hope that normalcy will be restored in the coming year,” Singh stated.
The conflict, which has deeply divided the region, continues to claim lives, while efforts towards peace remain underway.
Follow us
