Imphal, March 09, 2010: Asserting that its armed wing was involved in the recent spate of shoot-outs with security forces, the proscribed RPF claimed that Indian security forces suffered several casualties.

A statement released today by RPF's Department of Publicity chief GM Chang-jou said cadres of the PLA's Lanjaba unit engaged security force personnel from March 2 till yesterday during which troops of the Assam Rifles suffered maximum casualties with many other injured in the clashes that took place at the hill ranges of Senapati and Chandel districts.

On March 2 at around 6.30 am, the PLA cadres who were assigned a specific operation clashed with a combined security team of 15 AR, 120 Bn BSF and state forces at Merryland Tangkhul village of Chandel district which was followed by another shoot-out at the hill range of Lungther Tangkhul village in Senapati district at around noon.

Further at around 1 pm another group of Lanjaba unit cadres engaged security forces at near Tolen, Wabaching, Phoirenching, Sangkhul and Sharik villages, Changjou elaborated with the claim that many security personnel were injured in these clashes.

Moreover, a number of security force personnel, including reinforcements could not making further inroads as the PLA cadres laid ambushes from vantage points, he maintained.

The next day at around 1 pm, PLA cadres engaged security forces in a fierce gun-battle in and around Tolen Khuman village of Chandel during which the security forces suffered substantial loss.

In another encounter that ensued at Keihou Tangkhul village under Yairipok police station on March 6 afternoon, 23 AR suffered casualties, claimed the Publicity chief.

The most recent clash took place on march 8 morning at near Warok village of Chandel district wherein two personnel of the 15 AR were slain besides causing injuries to many others, changjou maintained while alleging that under the pretext of search operation security forces set vast tracts of forest on fire.

RPF's executive committee has congratulated cadres of the Lanjaba unit for the successful campaigns, the statement added.