2 Soldiers Injured In Exchange Of Fire Between Gunmen, Assam Rifles In Manipur's Imphal West

An exchange of fire took place between unknown gunmen and Assam Rifle troops in Manipur's Imphal West district at 5 am on Thursday.

Amid unrest, an exchange of fire between unknown gunmen and Assam Rifles troops was reported at North Boljang in Manipur’s Imphal West district at 5 am on Thursday, IANS reported. The situation has been brought under control and combing operations to ferret out the gunmen are on. Shots of automatic small arms were also heard near Urangpat, North of YKPI in Imphal East district, around 5.45 pm on Wednesday, sources said.

There were also reports of unprovoked firing by unidentified gunmen from 2 directions towards Harothel around 5.30pm. The situation was brought under control around 7.30 pm, sources added. Sources added that the Sawonbung-YKPI road remained blocked at multiple locations by the women activists on Wednesday, the report stated.

"Two soldiers sustained minor injuries after armed miscreants resorted to unprovoked firing in N Boljang, Imphal West Distt in the morning hours of June 22. Both the soldiers are stable. One INSAS light machine gun was recovered during the initial search," Spear Corps, Indian Army said.

There were also reports of unprovoked firing by unidentified gunmen from 2 directions towards Harothel around 5.30pm. The situation was brought under control around 7.30 pm, sources said. The Sawonbung-YKPI road was blocked at multiple locations by women activists on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Congress has termed the all-party meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah on the Manipur situation as "too little, too late," and said efforts to bring warring factions on the discussion table will lack seriousness if they are done sitting in Delhi.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the entire nation expects a serious intervention from the Union Government. "Any effort for peace must take place in Manipur, where the warring communities are brought on the discussion table and a political solution is arrived at. This effort will lack seriousness if it is done sitting in Delhi," he said on Twitter.

Amit Shah has called an all-party meeting on the situation in Manipur on June 24.

Violent clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.