PREPAK strike claims 5 CRPF men
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 03: In yet another attack on security forces within a span of three days, at least five personnel of the 143 CRPF were killed and eight others wounded, one of them seriously, when well-equipped cadres of the proscribed PREPAK laid an ambush along National Highway-53 at Khonglong Part-II under Sapermeina Police Station in Senapati District today.

The armed PREPAK cadres also ambushed the reinforcement team of CRPF personnel which rushed in to the spot at Patsoi area.

Claiming the responsibility for the attack, the military spokesman of the outfit said the ambush was carried out by the Red Army, CO-II Unit.

The spot along NH-53 where the CRPF convoy was ambushed by PREPAK cadres and inset security personnel inspecting a vehicle

According to CRPF personnel who were there at the ambush site when mediapersons arrived, the incident took place at around 10.30 am today while around 30 personnel of the 143 CRPF posted at Lamphel were returning in three trucks after supplying ration and dropping CRPF personnel on duty at the six security posts deployed along the National Highway at Kotlen, Tupul, Sejang, Noney and Rangkhong.

As the trucks carrying the security personnel approached the ambush site, located 5 kms from Keithelmanbi and 32 kms from Imphal, the PREPAK cadres who were armed with sophisticated weapons first released a volley of bullets on the rear truck killing the driver on the spot.

On receiving the report of the ambush at the battalion, a reinforcement of CRPF personnel in seven trucks rushed in.

But they were also waylaid and attacked by the armed cadres again near a brick field at Patsoi at around 11 am.

Apart from causing damages to the front glass of a Gypsy which bore two bullet marks, there is no report of any casualty in the second attack.

While informing that the around 20 armed cadres of PREPAK might be involved in the first attack, the CRPF personnel said in the ensuing attack which lasted for almost 10-20 minutes, the driver HC Kunjamohan who was at the wheel of the last truck was killed on the spot while four other personnel namely Constable KP Reddy, Constable Javed Khan and Head Constable Shivkumar, all from Kerala and Sada Shiv Dharani (35) succumbed to the injuries at RIMS Hospital where they were brought for treatment.

The other eight personnel who sustained injuries in the attack are identified as Manojkumar (35) s/o Chalpalpali of Kerala (Constable no.913101833); Ajoy Kalimge (24) s/o Manju Mathrao Kalimge of Karnataka ( Constable no.35051597); Amar (27), Sumarat (27), Ramesh (24), Vagaban (24) Anthony Joseph (28) and Rajian (30).Among them the condition of Rajian is said to be critical and he was later referred to Shija Hospitals and Research Centre at Langol.

It is said that all the injured and slain CRPF personnel were travelling in the same ill-fated last truck.

The last truck suffered the full impact of the attack with many bullet marks on its body but the other two trucks in front managed to drive ahead till the Kotlen post.

The CRPF personnel further informed that the armed PREPAK cadres launched the attack while hiding behind the bushes on the road side.

Empty cartridges including that of Lethod bombs have been recovered from the site of the attack.

After the attack, DIG (Operation) of CRPF GS Gill arrived at the spot and personally inspected the damages caused.

SP of Imphal West Clay Khongsai also arrived along with his Police Commandos at the spot for personal inspection.

While the atmosphere was tense after the attack, one of the CRPF personnel allegedly opened fire three rounds causing other personnel to take position thinking that UGs have launched the attack once again.

Fearing the reprisals of the security personnel after the attack, most of the local residents particularly the men fled from their houses while the womenfolks stayed together.

CRPF personnel also cordoned off the area and launched a massive manhunt of the attackers.

However, there is no report of any arrest made till the filing of this report.