The officer described the attacks in detail saying that the armed men were from the hilltop and they started firing indiscriminately and hurling bombs around 10.45 am in Sanasabi village and the adjacent areas. He added that the situation forced the security personnel to retaliate.
Panic prevailed in two villages of Manipur's Imphal East district on Friday after armed men from the hills launched gun-and-bomb attacks. There has been no reports of injuries as of yet in the attacks that took place in Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi villages.
A senior police officer told PTI that the security forces retaliated, resulting in a fierce exchange of fire in both the villages.
The office described the attacks in details saying that the armed men were from the hilltop and they started firing indiscriminately and hurling bombs around 10.45 am in Sanasabi village and the adjacent areas. He said that the situation forced the security personnel to retaliate.
Locals were reportedly seen running helter-skelter as the gunfight between the armed men and security personnel broke out.
"Armed men also launched attacks in Thamnapokpi village in the district around 11.30 am, creating panic among residents there," the officer added.
Security forces, including CRPF personnel, rescued several women, children and elder people, who were caught in the firing.
More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur since May last year.