Imphal, November 01 2008: A LARGE force of Manipur People's Army (MPA) of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) launched 'Operation Veng Clear' against an IOF post located above the Veng village in Singhat sub-division of Churachandpur district at around 8 p.m of October 30 last, a press release of the Department of Publicity, UNLF stated.

Senior Publicity Officer, Ksh Yoiheiba of the outfit today stated in the press release that the MPA force attacked and destroyed the post which lies in the area of 292 Bn of MPA by firing innumerable rockets, bombs and bullets.

The 'Operation Veng Clear' had to be launched to prevent the IOF from further killing, torturing and arresting local villagers who go to the Manipur river for fishing in order to earn their livelihood.

In the first half of the operation which lasted about 35 minutes, one high sentry tower and the power house of the camp were destroyed by rocket firing.

Then three barracks where the army personnel sleep were completely destroyed, the press release claimed.

It further stated that with a view to occupying the entire post, the MPA force went in for mopping operation.

When two sections of the 3rd platoon went in from the left flank and as they got closer to the IOF camp, a series of land-mines which were planted by the IOF started exploding one after another causing casualties to some of the MPA soldiers.

Therefore, they have to retreat without achieving the objective, Ksh Yoiheiba stated.

He expressed belief that the IOF would have suffered a number of casualties in the attack.

Although it could not be ascertained immediately how many of the IOF had suffered casualties, the way two helicopters later transported casualties from the camp to and fro indicated that they certainly suffered many casualties.

The press release admitted that two of the MPA soldiers who led the offensive laid down their lives for their motherland in the land-mine explosions.

They are Army No.1305, Cpl Asangbam Athinba @ Bungomacha, S/o A Shyamkishor of Chalou Maning Leikai and Army No.1734, L/Cpl Ningthoujam Sangai @ Rajeshwor, S/o N Rajen of Keibul Makha Leikai.

Comrade Sangai breathed his last at around 11.30 p.m.of the same night while comrade Athingba died at 4 a.m.of October 31, Yoiheiba's press release informed.

Expressing UNLF/MPA's pride over the sacrifice of the two courageous comrades, the press release conveyed message of condolences to the berieved families of the two cadres.

Earlier, the IOF on different occasions had tried to blame the MPA for planting land-mines in the village roads, but now the villagers have come to know that it is the IOF who are burying the land-mines around their camps and in the villages' paths.

It has become all the more clear with the death of two of the MPA cadres that the IOF has been burying land-mines in the hills all these years.

Many MPA soldiers had sustained injuries in the army's land-mine explosions.

On May 27 this year one MPA cadre, Army No.2066, Pte Heikrujam Thonba @ Robin, S/o (L) H Krishnamohon of Wangjing Sorokhaibam Leikai had also passed away, Ksh Yoiheiba disclosed.