AR man hurt in gun fight, KRA cadre held
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 10 2023: A jawan of 18 Assam Rifles sustained injuries during a gunfight which occurred in Dolaithabi area in Imphal East district on Wednesday while a cadre of the armed Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), a SoO signatory, has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The injured AR man has been identified Rifleman Alok Rao.

He suffered a gunshot wound on the abdomen area and was immediately airlifted to the military hospital in Leimakhong where his condition is stated to be stable.

Meanwhile, the arrested KRA cadre has been identified as Kh-upngam Koirengs/o Teba Koireng of Utonglok village.

A 9mm pistol was seized from his possession.

According to sources, KRA cadres had reportedly been raining shots and burning houses at villages near Dolaithabi Post and Dolaithabi Top Post.

Since Tuesday, troopers of 18 AR had taken over the two posts after driving away the militants.

On Wednesday morning, KRA cadres attacked the post at Dolaithabi Top which the AR personnel retaliated, forcing the militants to flee the area.

The fleeing cadres, however, came across an unknown armed group on their way back, resulting to a fire exchange.

As the second armed group outnumbered and overwhelmed the SoO militants, they (KRA) had to flee back but were met with an AR check post, which had just been opened on Tuesday.

Rifleman Alok Rao, who was on duty, issued a warning but the militants fired at him before fleeing the area.

On receiving news of the incident, the AR troopers fired several rounds at the militants and chased after them.

The KRA cadres ran to the nearby Utonglok village and hid there.

Shortly after additional forces of the Indian Army including AR from Lei-makhong and Saikul rushed to the location and cordoned off Utonglok village.

During the operation, a KRA cadre was apprehended with one 9mm pistol.

Security forces also recovered some firearms and ammunition from the village but failed to apprehend the other cadres involved in the incident.

Later, the security forces also conducted operation at Lhangnom village, which is settled and guarded by KRA, the sources conveyed.

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