Amid a decrease in violent incidents in Manipur, security forces remain on high alert following gun battles and explosions near the state’s border with Myanmar over the past week.

According to an Indian Express (IE) report, intense gunfights erupted on January 27 in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, which is experiencing civil war. This area is close to Manipur’s Kamjong district.

Kamjong Superintendent of Police Ningshem Vashum stated that firing has continued near the border. “The firefights are still taking place but across the border, within the jurisdiction of Myanmar. We are on high alert, and along with the Assam Rifles, we have opened three new checkposts along the border – from Namlee to Phaikok. Right now, there is no border crossing happening on this stretch, and there is no ripple on our side,” IE reported Vashum as saying.

The report further noted that since the violence is occurring across the border, security officials stationed in Manipur have no details on the groups involved or the number of casualties. However, in the past week, three banned insurgent groups from Manipur’s Meitei-majority valley, which have bases in Myanmar, have claimed that some of their cadres were killed in gunfights.

On January 31, a public funeral was held in Imphal East’s Andro area for a member of the proscribed group People’s Liberation Army (PLA), who had reportedly been killed in Myanmar near the border on January 27.

In a statement, the Revolutionary People’s Front, whose armed wing is the PLA, claimed that PLA “2nd Lieutenant” Henthoiba had died in an encounter with “proxy enemies.” Following this, on Sunday, two other valley-based groups – the UNLF’s Koireng faction and the KYKL – stated that they lost one member each on January 30 in a gunfight against the Kuki National Army-Burma and the Indian military. Similar allegations had been made last year by the Naga insurgent group NSCN(IM), which accused “proxy warfare” in Myanmar territory.

Indian security forces have denied these claims. Valley-based insurgent groups, which have witnessed increased activities and recruitment since the onset of the ongoing conflict in Manipur, have bases in Myanmar, where they reportedly fight alongside the military junta against the rebel People’s Defence Force and Ethnic Armed Organisations, including the KNA(B).

Reports have also emerged of Kuki-Zo individuals being killed in the ongoing clashes in Myanmar near Kamjong. However, unlike the valley-based insurgent groups, no Kuki-Zo group has claimed the deaths of its members.

MT

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