ZUF cadres, AR man die in clashes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 22 2014 : Two cadres of the armed Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and an Assam Rifles jawan have been killed while two other personnel of the para-military force suffered injuries in shoot-outs that occurred at different places of Tamenglong district last night and early morning today.

Confirming casualty suffered by the para-military force, a PRO (Defence) statement said rifleman TG Singh of 13 Assam Rifles deployed in counter insurgency operations under Red Shield Division was martyred while countering terrorist action in the general area of Nungba on May 21 .

Rifleman TG Singh was a part of an Area Domination Patrol along the NH-37 near Nungba when suspected ZUF cadres opened indiscriminate fire from a fleeing vehicle.

With utter disregard to his personal safety, displaying admirable courage and determination, Rifleman TG Singh returned fire from his personal weapon and neutralised one suspected ZUF cadre identified as Makunbhuma Phaomei.

Rifleman Takhellambam Gokil Singh of 13 Assam Rifles

His gallant action also resulted in the arrest of three cadres of ZUF alongwith recovery of arms and ammunition.

Rifleman TG Singh however succumbed to his injuries and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Armed Forces, maintained the statement adding that last rites of the martyr will be undertaken from his residence at Akham Mamang Leikai with full military honour.

the first fire-fight broke out at around 8.30 pm yesterday at an area between the district's Kambiron and Nungba villages, on the Imphal- Jiribam section of National Highway-37 .

According to an informed source, troops of 13 AR stationed at Khongsang were returning to their camp after a search operation when one of the vehicles (truck) developed technical snag and stopped in the middle of the highway.

Moments later occupants of a Bolero jeep heading towards the AR team opened fire injuring three of the jawans while one of the attackers got killed in retaliatory action.

One of the AR men succumbed to injury at a military hospital.

The deceased ZUF cadre has been identified as Makudin Rongmei (22) s/o Lungnihai from Khoupum Thanagong, Tamenglong district while the injured AR men are said to be Takhellambam Gokil alias Manao (24) of Akham Mamang Leikai in Imphal West district, and Atwaekka Oran and Lalit kumar from Odisha.

Even though the injured AR jawans were air-lifted to the Military Hospital of 57 Mountain Division in Leimakhong, Gokil, who suffered bullet wound in the abdomen area could not be saved.

another encounter reportedly ensued near a gorge at the same area in the wee hours today in which two ZUF cadres got killed.

While one of the deceased has been identified as ZUF captain Mathuilan Phaomei (30) s/o (L) Poubuilung, who hails from Mukti Khullen but was staying at Rongkhong, details of the other victim could not be ascertained till the time of filing this report.

Two AK series rifles and same number of hand grenades have been recovered from the slain duo.

Post mortem on both corpses was conducted today at RIMS Morgue and a case has been registered at Nungba police station on the incidents.

Recounting the first shoot-out, one Chingkhudin (50) of Nungba said his Bolero Camp jeep (MN-03P/2482) was hijacked by three ZUF cadres from Nungba area last night.

including two other occupants in the vehicle, the hijackers took the Bolero Camper towards Kambiron but came across a team of AR whose signal to halt was not heeded as the ZUF cadres asked Chingkhudin at gun point to press the pedal.

inspite of managing to speed past the first obstacle of AR troops the road was found blocked by an AR vehicle after a short distance, Chingkhudin said adding that even as he was telling the AR troops that their order was not obeyed for he was at the mercy of the armed hijackers gun-shots were fired resulting to the death of a ZUF cadre and injuries to atleast three AR jawans.