Two Thoubal cops hurt in ambush
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 20: One Police Commando and one IRB personnel sustained injuries following heavy exchange of firing between underground activists and Thoubal Police Commandos at Salungpham under Thoubal Police Station at around 12.10 pm today.

According to information culled from the site of the incident, at around 7 am today, Thoubal Police intercepted report of factional clashes involving PREPAK cadres including one 'Sidaba' who is the Thoubal District Commander of the outfit at Ukhongshang.

Consequently, four teams of Police Commandos led by OC Kishorechand rushed to the area.

Security force take cover to strike back during the ambush at Thoubal District

However, as they could not find anything amiss there inspite of searching the area thoroughly, the Commando teams turned back. As they approached Salungpham market, the Commando teams saw the villagers here and there in panic.

Suspicious of the whole thing, the commando teams drove their vehicles toward the ground of Salungpham Yambem Mamang Leikai.

At around 12.10 pm, as the bullet proof Gypsy (MN01K-7690) of OC Commando Kishorechand inched towards the ground, some UGs in combat dresses who were already positioned there opened fire and as well as rocket launchers toward the approaching Gypsy.

Seeing that, the bullet-proof Gypsy of the OC took the rear gear and fell into the roadside ditch.

One of the Commandos who was in the Gypsy was hit by bullets on his right shoulder and lower chin. The injured Commando has been identified as Constable Khoirom Santosh (28) s/o Ibosana of Kiyamgei.

He is currently undergoing treatment at RIMS Hospital.

One of the rocket launchers fired from the side of the UGs exploded in a bamboo groove nearby while another pierced through the wall of the house of one Oinam Mangi of Kang Yambem Mayai Leikai and landed inside the TV room However, it did not explode.

A young woman was watching TV at that time.

When a reinforcement of Police Commandos arrived, the combined force drove up to the road leading to the hillock at Salungpham Mamang.

There again the UGs launched attack on the approaching Commando along with firing guns and rocket launchers.

In the attack, one 3 IRB personnel attached with the Commandos identified as Yengkhom Pravin (28) s/o Babuchou of Saiton was hit with bomb splinter on his right shoulder.

He too is undergoing treatment at RIMS.

According to SP of Thoubal District Radheshyam, the UGs have fired in all six of rocket launchers.

One of the misfired rocket launcher which landed inside the TV room of O Mangi was retrieved by the bomb experts at around 4.40 pm today and later detonated safely in a nearby paddy field.

After coming down from the hill one after another at around 10 am today, the armed UGs had reportedly told the villagers to leave their houses for some safer places.

On receiving the news about the encounter, a combined troop of 34 Assam Rifles and 88 BSF stationed at Nongpok Sekmai also rushed in to the spot.

The combine force climbed up the hillock and by 2.30 pm managed to chase away the UGs.

In the attack of the UGs, the tyres of the Gypsy of the OC got punctured and the body of the vehicle suffered bullet holes.There were also holes made by bullet on another Gypsy.

Meanwhile, claiming the responsibility for the attack, the assistant chief of communication and publicity of the proscribed outfit RPF said that the attack had been launched by the armed cadres of PLA, the armed wing of RPF.

The assistant chief clarified that the attack was not planned on the State forces but had to be launched as a defence as the commandos tried to advance toward the place where the PLA cadres are staying.

Nonetheless, RPF and its armed wing PLA felt sorry for the two injured police personnel, the assistant chief said, adding that PLA is always prepared to fight with the Indian Army not with the State forces.

The assistant chief further said that Elangbam Ibosana and Haorangbam Kalamu have been arrested by the Commandos from Khurai Puthiba area at around 9 am of December 16 after resorting to firing.