Imphal, Feb 14: Disturbing scenes of young school children fleeing gunfire and seeking refuge in a ditch have emerged in strife torn Manipur on Tuesday in what was a deliberate attempt to target them by militants using long range automatic weapons.

The attack took place in Santipur-Pukhao playground near Irilbung river, located in the vicinity of Khamenlok, a hotspot for ethnic violence.

Seven school children playing football in the field became targets for snipers suspected to be from the Kuki Chin Zo militant outfits. Several shots were fired towards the unsuspecting children from a distance and the heart wrenching moment was captured on camera and has since gone viral in social media.

In the chilling footage, the boys are seen taking refuge in a nearby ditch to avoid getting hit and they recount the close call as sniper bullets missed them by a whisker. Despite the terrifying experience, none of the boys sustained injuries.

The day also witnessed prolonged gunfights in Santipur-Pukhao, adding to the escalating conflict between armed Kuki Chin Zo militants and Meitei groups in Imphal East district of Manipur.

The intense clashes resulted in a fatality on each side, with three Meitei village defence volunteers sustaining bullet injuries.

The critical situation persists, with ongoing gunfights in the area, highlighting the deep-rooted tensions between the predominantly Meitei-dominated district of Imphal East and the Kuki-dominated district of Kangpokpi.

Since violence broke out on May 3 of last year, Manipur has been grappling with relentless conflict, claiming over two hundred lives and displacing over sixty thousand individuals who continue to seek refuge in makeshift relief camps. The situation remains dire, emphasizing the urgent need for resolution and stability in the region.

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