Two Manipur police personnel were killed in a gunfight between state security forces and suspected Kuki militants in the border town of Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district on Wednesday, police said.

The deceased were identified as Wangkhem Somorjit and Takhellambam Saileshwore. Both hailed from Imphal West district.

“Today at early morning, armed militants orchestrated a violent attack on the State forces, employing firearms and explosives in Moreh, Tengnoupal district. In the incident, one personnel of 6th Manipur Rifles namely Wangkhem Somorjit Meetei was martyred in the line of duty, while three police personnel sustained injuries. Security forces are presently engaging the inimical elements,” Manipur police said in a post on X in the afternoon.

The other policeman, Takhellambam Saileshwore, died in the evening after the state police’s post on X.

One Kuki-Zo woman was also reportedly killed after a Casper vehicle of the Assam Rifles allegedly hit her during a protest against the central security agencies.

According to sources, the security forces exchanged fire with suspected Kuki militants in three different locations in Moreh town on Wednesday morning. The militants hurled bombs and fired at a post of security forces near SBI Moreh, the police said, adding that the security forces retaliated.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the Kuki tribe, said in a statement that Meitei state security forces, in collaboration with valley-based insurgent groups (VBIGs), were indiscriminately attacking and targeting Kuki-Zo civilians.

“This has tragically resulted in the wanton destruction and arson of Canaan Veng, Moreh (Ward 71) and Phaicham Veng, Moreh (Ward 3) including a church and educational institutions.

“The Kuki Inpi Manipur strongly condemns the armed aggression of the state security forces and VBIGs against the defenceless Kuki-Zo people in Moreh. KIM is equally dismayed by the injudicious response of Col Rahul Jain, CO, 5th AR and his subordinate Maj Aman who have authorised the use of 2-inch mortar bombs against the Kuki-Zo people, including a vehicular assault on Kuki-Zo women with a Casspir MPV resulting in serious injuries,” KIM said in a statement.

“The armed aggression in Moreh is resulting in extensive devastation for the Kuki-Zo people. The persistent threat to their lives, the destruction of their homes and the mental and emotional trauma caused by the relentless armed aggression starkly violate the fundamental rights,” the statement added.

On the other hand, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which represents the Meitei people, condemned the attack on Manipur police by “Myanmar’s Chin Kuki militant outfits in collaboration with Kuki militant groups based in Myanmar”.

“This incident has brought to light a distressing lapse in the coordination between state and central security forces, especially the reported non-assistance from the Assam Rifles stationed at Moreh, allegedly because of a lack of orders from the ministry of home affairs. Such a breakdown in support exacerbates the challenges faced by the state security forces in dealing with external threats,” COCOMI said in a statement.

COCOMI also alleged perceived inaction on the part of the Centre against the external Kuki elements from Myanmar.

Moreh has been experiencing regular exchanges of fire between security forces and militants over the past few days. The latest firing incident took place just 48 hours after the arrest of two suspects involved in the killing of a police officer by the state’s forces.

Earlier in the day, the Manipur government requested the Union home ministry to provide a helicopter to “meet emergent requirement” in the wake of the fresh violence.

“The law and order situation at the border town of Moreh has become a matter of serious concern as there have been continuous exchange of fire taking place and this has resulted in the death of one IRB personnel this morning. In view of the prevalent situation, the situation may deteriorate further in Moreh, and medical emergency may arise any time. The police department has also informed that there is also need for airlifting of security personnel, ammunition, etc. to Moreh,” said T. Ranjit Singh, (commissioner, home) government of Manipur, in a letter addressed to the home ministry.

“It is, therefore, requested that MHA may kindly provide MHA Air Asset (Helicopter) to the State Government and place it at Imphal immediately from today, for at least a period of 7 days to meet the emergency requirements,” it said, adding “This may kindly be treated as very important and urgent.”

The ongoing violence in Manipur since May last year has so far left at least 200 killed and over 67,000 displaced.