Seven cops hurt in UG ambush
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal/Moreh, October 04 2012: AT LEAST seven police personnel were wounded after heavily armed UG cadres laid an ambush on a convoy of Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chandel district at H Mongjang Lamkhai along NH-39 (Imphal-Moreh Road) near Khudengthabi close to Moreh Police Station in the border district of Chandel today.

SP Elangbam Priyokumar escaped unhurt in the ambush.

Moreh is a border town located between Myanmar and India, and is situated 100 kilometres east of Imphal.

The incident occurred at around 1:45 pm today while the SP was returning along with the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel and his security convoy after attending an Indo-Myanmar Liaison meeting at Tamu in the neighboring Myanmar. The spot where the convoy was ambushed is located at a distance of about 4 kms from the AR check post at Khudengthabi.

According to Police report, the SP was in a Gypsy with two other Gypsies in front.

When they convoy was about to reach Mongjang Lamkhai, the gypsy in which the SP was travelling overtook the Gypsies in front as there was lot of dust along the road.

As soon as his vehicle crossed Mongjang Lamkhai, one bomb exploded hitting the vehicle coming in the rear.

Seconds later another bomb exploded near his vehicle.

In all seven police personnel sustained injuries in the explosion.

AR personnel rushing in with ambulance to evacuate the injured seven convoy members of Chandel SP

Realizing the graveness of the situation, the injured were immediate evacuated to the AR Post at Khudengthabi where they were given first aid.

After the twin explosions, the armed UGs, who were hiding among the bushes of the hill cliff, also opened fire at the convoy.

The police also retaliated.

But there is no casualty in the encounter.

SP Elangbam Priyokumar while talking to media persons stated that the ambushed could have been carried out by CorCom, though no specific group of CorCom was mentioned.

The police officer said that the attack was a target on the state police.

However, the real motive was unknown, he hastened to add.

From the AR post, the injured personnel were brought to Imphal in an ambulance for further medical treatment at RIMS.

They have been identified as Morung Maring (32), s/o Moshilpa Maring of Laiching Minou village; Y Chonte Chothe (30) s/o Y Dambling Chothe of Prumchumbam village; Takhellambam Badan (40), s/o T Joykumar of Pallel; Simkholen Aimol (25), s/o Kholein of Pallel; Rineithang Aimol (24), s/o Samtein Khup of Pallel Aimol Maring village; Thelinshang Tontang (35), s/o L Kothen Tontang of Nungourem village.

All of them suffered multiple bomb splinters on their heads, necks, hands and legs.

As soon as the reports of the ambush on the SP and his escort party reached Moreh, a team of Manipur Police Commandos posted in Moreh rushed in to the spot.

Security personnel sanitising the area after the twin blasts at H Mongjang Lamkhai along NH-39

A team of AR also rushed to the spot as reinforcement.

The security personnel detected two more unexploded bombs lying in the area.

Later in the evening, Manipur Police bomb experts from Thoubal arrived and retrieved the two bombs.

DGP Y Joykumar and DIG Range-I, Clay Khongsai also went upto Thoubal on hearing about the ambush.

From there they, along with the injured personnel returned back to Imphal.

During the incident, DGAR and IGAR (S) were at Moreh and both of them also rushed in to take stock of the situation.

According to a statement issued by PRO Assam Rifles, on hearing the news, the Assam Rifles activated its resources and rushed to the ambush site with reinforcement, Ambulance and Doctor to provide first aid to the injured persons.

The troops on reaching the ambush site sanitised it and provided first aid.

During this incident, DGAR and IGAR (South) were also present at Moreh and both the Generals officers living to the true spirit of Assam Rifles and friends of Manipur visited the ambush site and took stock of the situation.

Subsequently the injured were evacuated to Imphal alongwith the convoy of DG Assam Rifles Later in the evening, MLA of Chandel and other top state police officials visited RIMS where the seven police personnel are undertaking treatment.

According to a late night report, two of the seriously injured personnel were referred to Shija hospital at Langol as their condition deteriorated late in the night.