Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, July 01:
At least seven persons including three civilians were injured in an ambush laid on a convoy of 16 Assam Rifles this evening around 4.30 pm at Wabagai Lamkhai in Thoubal district.
One civilian is reported to have been killed in the ambush aftermath.
Official sources said a patrol party of 16 Assam Rifles under 44 Brigade in five trucks were on their way somewhere at Mayang Imphal to Kakching road when unidentified armed persons fired upon them from four sides.
The AR personnel immediately retaliated and the ensued encounter lasted for about 20 minutes.
Four jawans were injured, two of them seriously in the encounter.
However, there was no report of any casualty on the side of the attackers.
On the other hand, another source said well after the unidentified armed attackers had left the spot, the AR jawans continued their indiscriminate firing resulting in the injury of three civilians.
The injured civilians were evacuated to the RIMS hospital in Imphal.
Local reports said a civilian, identified as Huidrom Jugeshor, 41, of Wabagai Makha Leikai was abandoned by the AR troops at Wabagai Lamkhai, and on inspection by the local people he was found to be dead.
One of the other injured was identified as Yumnam Jugal, 45, of Wabagai Thingel Leikai, who runs a roadside hotel.
He was said to have been shot at by the jawans after being called out in front of the hotel.
The source said the other two injured had been working in the paddy field.
They were said to have been hit by stray bullets.
After the incident, the AR personnel also took out their anger on the local civilians.
Around five civilians were reported hospitalized after the AR personnel assaulted them brutally, the source said.
At the same time, four civilians were reportedly picked up by the personnel.
Meanwhile, a team of Thoubal district police led by the SP were denied entry at the spot of encounter by the AR personnel.