4 commandos hurt as militants attack Manipur police post near Myanmar

IMPHAL: Troubled Manipur's trial by bloodshed since May continued into the last day of the year as suspected militants attacked a police outpost in Moreh bordering Myanmar early Sunday, leaving four commandos wounded in a burst of gunfire. A village guard was also injured in a blast at Tumukhong village in Imphal East district, a day after unidentified gunmen killed another village sentry in Imphal West.

The militant attack on the outpost at Moreh Turelwangma Leikai started around midnight on Saturday with a shower of rocket-propelled grenades, mortar fire and bullets from automatic rifles. The fighting continued till 2am, police officials said.

The injured police commandos - Diliangam Komson, M Priyokumar, N Borjao and M Sunil - were initially hospitalised in an Assam Rifles camp before being moved to Imphal for advanced treatment. They are said to be out of danger.

The N Biren Singh government sent reinforcements to Moreh, where some houses were also set ablaze on Saturday night.

The tribal organisation Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal accused the police commandos of torching the houses and indiscriminate firing on Kuki-Zo localities there.

Residents of Moreh displaced by the ongoing conflict, who are currently taking refuge in a government college in Imphal East, staged a demonstration on Sunday against the renewed attacks on state forces deployed on the border.