Moirang, July 7: A teenager and a commando personnel were killed when armed militants with high-level weapons opened an attack at two places, at Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai and  Kwakta in Bishnupur district of Manipur on Friday.  

Security forces involving Manipur Police, Police Commandos, BSF, and local volunteers were firing back when the militants were attacking, resulting in a pitched gun battle. While there was a brief silence after about 30 minutes of heavy gunfire and taking privilege of the calmness, Mayengbam Ibomcha sent his son Mayengbam Rickey Meitei aged 17 from Kwakta Moirang Turel Mapal to Terakhongshangbi where his mother has been in relief camp taking shelter.

As Rickey went on to get his mother on a scooter, militants arranged a surprise attack and Rickey was shot dead during the attack on Tiddim Road near Kwakta Sericulture Training Institute.

Mayengbam Rickey had just finished his Class 12 of Arts at Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School. The school has condoled the passing of Rickey. The students held a protest demonstrating against war and all forms of violence  and put up placards such as “Dear Prime Minister, our young friends/students are dying every day. How many more days should we wait for peace in Manipur?”, “ Restore normalcy, resume normal classes”, “ We want peace, not war”, “ We strongly condemn killing of innocent students, we condemn killing of Mayengbam Rickey Meitei”.