Imphal/UNI: A senior Manipur police officer, named Chingtham Anand, was shot dead by suspected Kuki militants at Eastern Ground, Moreh, on Tuesday.

Police said Anand was discharging duty as DSP in the border town and was supervising works in the field to enable helicopter service. Anand was hit by a long range weapon and the bullet pierced his chest.

After the incident, suspected Kuki militants also attacked police personnel. Heavy exchange of fire was reported in the border town.

As various Kuki organizations have stopped the movement of police on the highway, only few police personnel were on duty in the border town. Additional forces were airlifted to control the situation.

During the last few days Manipur Police personnel had arrested about 11 Myanmar citizens who were involved in illegal activities at Moreh.

After the 1991 Kuki Naga clash there was no Naga settlement at Moreh and after the Meitei Kuki clash which started on 3 May 2023 all Meitei had fled away from the border town.

Kuki organizations had blocked the national highway and deployment of Manipur Police was not allowed to control the situation on the border.