Ambush site not in S Sehken village
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
Churachandpur, November 15 2021:
The People's Chronicle on Monday visited the spot where the commanding officer of 46 Assam Rifles colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife, son and four personnel lost their lives in an ambush laid by PLA and MNPF militants in the cemetery area of Behiang T village.
On reaching the area, it was found that the spot where the incident took place was about 15 metres away from Behiang T cemetery and it is not in S Sehken village as reported in the media.
The CO was returning from Behiang in a Bolero vehicle after a night's stay at the Behiang Assam Rifles post and was heading for Churachandpur when the convoy was ambushed.
It was also learnt that the militants, who were lying in wait, exploded IED bombs at about seven sites on both sides of the Tedim road as the army convoy passed through the road around 10 am.
The explosion created large craters along the road.
Then the militants, who took position behind creeper plants on the eastern side of the road, started raining bullets on the Bolero vehicle that left CO Viplav, his wife and son dead.
The CO's vehicle was hit by more than 80 bullets.
His escort vehicle, a Bolero, was also riddled with some 60 holes caused by bullets and lathode shells.
The pilot Gypsy vehicle had some 10 bullet holes.
After the attack, the militants retreated into the thick forest on the eastern side of the area.
There were traces of the militants' movement and a trail of blood was found on the way where the militants retreated and it is suspected that the militants were also injured in retaliatory firing by the AR troopers as they reportedly exhausted four magazines.
The army officials and the civil police were seen collecting bomb splinters, empty cases and some misfired lathode bombs, besides evidence and clues.
While talking to villagers of Behiang T, it was learnt there was no harassment by the security forces.
They also said that they never saw any UGs coming to their village.
The village authority secretary Haukhanmung made an appeal saying no groups should perpetrate such dastardly act to anybody including women and children near their village in future.
The villagers said that fearing repercussion from security forces, all villagers gathered at the village chief's house and remained there for quite some time.
Since no army officials are willing to give any comment regarding the incident, information on whether operation would be launched or not cannot be ascertained as of now.