Imphal: In a shocking incident, a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anand Kumar was allegedly killed in an ambush by suspected Kuki militants at Moreh, a trading point between India-Myanmar border, in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district on Tuesday, a police official said.
Chingtham was on duty overseeing the cleaning of the grounds of Eastern Shine School when he was hit by a sniper’s bullet. The ground was cleared for the construction of a helipad jointly by the police and Border Secirity Force.
The SDPO was rushed to a primary health centre in Moreh where he succumbed to his injuries, a police official said.
Additional security forces led by an Inspector General of Police and para-military officials have rushed to the area and launched a combing operation to arrest the militants, the police official said.
Moreh is largely inhabited by tribal Kukis and the incident occurred amid the demands of various tribal groups to withdraw the state forces from the border town Moreh.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has condemned the incident and vowed actions against the perpetrators.
“Deeply saddened by the cold-blooded killing of SDPO Chingtham Anand, OC Moreh Police this morning. His dedication to serve and protect the people will always be remembered. The perpetrators will be brought to justice,” Chief Minister Biren wrote on X.
Following the unprecedented incident, the Chief Minister held an emergent Cabinet meeting and took stock of the situation.
Condemning the dastardly act, the cabinet approved an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh ex gratia and to provide a suitable government employment for the next of the kin of the slain police officer.
The Cabinet noted that both sides of the ethnic conflict had been exercising restraint and peace has been maintained for the past one-and-half to two months.
“While a sense of normalcy was slowly settling in, an MPS (Manipur Police Service) officer has been killed today in unprovoked firing by armed Kuki militants…” an official statement after the Cabinet meeting.
The cabinet directed the security forces to launch a joint operation in Moreh and its adjoining areas to arrest the culprits responsible for the crime
“.. no illegal armed personnel shall be permitted in or around Moreh, considering the strategic position of the town under India’s Act East Policy,” the statement said, adding that the cabinet has directed central and state forces to ensure free movement of vehicles on Pallel-Moreh road NH-102 which connects Imphal valley with the border town, a distance of around 110 km.
The cabinet also approved to recommend the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) as an “unlawful organisation under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.”
In a press release issued on October 24, the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council had called upon the Kuki-Zo community to maintain sufficient stocks of their arms and ammunitions for facing another war before the harvesting season in November.
