AR post at Kongkan attacked
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, September 28 2013 : Armed cadres of People's Liberation Army (PLA), the military wing of the proscribed armed group Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) launched an attack on an Assam Rifles post at Kongkan, a remote village located near Indo-Myanmar international boundary along with heavy exchange of gunfire lasting for about half an hour this afternoon.

PLA claimed that it had killed 6 Assam Rifles personnel in the attack.

However, police sources said there was only a minor injury on one of the Assam Rifles personnel.

Report culled from local villagers said that the attack on 44 Assam Rifles post at Kongkan village took place at around 2.35pm and a heavy exchange of gunfire and explosions followed till 3.05 pm.

The border village is under Kamjong sub-division and situated about 95-km from Ukhrul district headquarters.

Informing this reporter over the telephone, the villagers said there were also a series of loud explosions while hinting on use of rocket propeller guns.

A reliable source informed that about 30 heavily armed cadres made the offensive on the AR camp taking advantage of the cloudy weather on Saturday afternoon.

After the attack, the armed attackers escaped towards Molnoi, a Kuki hamlet inside Myanmar territory.

Locals said the attack was carried out from close hillocks adjacent to Lakhan village.

There are also reports that some casualty may have been inflicted on the Assam Rifles troopers.

However, it could not be ascertained till the time of filing this report.

A source informed that a reinforcement troop in five vehicles including ambulance from Kamjong's 44 Assam Rifles battalion left for the spot at around 3.55 pm.

As soon as gunshots were heard, the panic-stricken villagers ran to the nearby jungle to take shelter and returned home only in the evening.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Bangkim, Chief of Department of Publicity, RPF said that the attack was carried out by a group from the Tactical Command of its armed wing, PLA using RPG, M-79 and other weapons while the personnel of D Coy 44 Assam Rifles were in fall-in.

In the attack, two barracks were destroyed completely, killing six personnel and inflicting injuries to many others.

There is likelihood of more personnel succumbing to their injuries.

There was no casualty on the side of PLA, Bangkim said, adding that today's attack was a part of the ongoing war against the Indian security forces.

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