One IRB jawan killed, two hurt in triple ambushes
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Imphal / Ukhrul, September 09 2014: In a series of tactical ambushes on the retreating state forces from Ukhrul town, one personnel of Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) was killed and four other jawans were injured in armed attacks carried out by suspected cadres of NSCN (IM) on Tuesday.

According to reports, following an instruction of the Government of Manipur for withdrawal of the IRB and police commandos who were kept confined at the Mini Secretariat of Ukhrul district headquarters all these days after the August 30 incident, a team of police commando led by DIG (range-I) Gurumayum Bimol Sharma were coming from Imphal on RoP duty when they came under attack from suspected NSCN (IM) cadres at Thawai-Lamlai (Ramrei) by-pass road, near Shangkai Kuki village under Litan police station at around 9.40 AM.

The two sides exchanged heavy firing for nearly 30 minutes.

Two jawans identified as Kapminlian Mangson (29), hailing from Tuibong Kuki village in Churachandpur district and Khumukcham Amuthoi (33) a native of Kakching Khunou of Thoubal district received injuries in the attack and they were rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) at Porompat for treatment.

Both of them are attached with Thoubal District Police Commandos.

The injured police man in Hospital

While a bullet scratched through the shoulder of Kapminlian, Amuthoi was hit by two bullets, one of which pierced through his body while another got lodged in intestine.

With the condition of Amuthoi critical, he was later referred to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) where a team of doctors including Assistant Professor (Surgeon) Gyan, Cardiologist Ramasho, Ortho Dr Dito and other medical experts conducted operation and removed the projectile safely.

While the first ambush on the ROP team, which had left Imphal at around 9 am, was going on, another team of police personnel who were coming out in 40 vehicles from Ukhrul came under attack from the suspected NSCN (IM) near the old Cement Factory at Hungdung Gate-II, about 12 km from Ukhrul town at about 9.50 AM.

In this attack, one IRB personnel was killed and another critically wounded.

The slain IRB jawan has been identified as Thotyo Kashung (31), son of K.Salmon, a resident of Riha (Loutei) village.

He was taken to the unit hospital of 16 Assam Rifles at Shangshak for treatment, but he succumbed to the injuries not long after.

Thotyo was a rifleman in 5 IRB but attached with Imphal West Police Commandos unit.

Ukhrul superintendent of police S.Selvan was in the party that came under attack near the Cement Factory site.

His escort, as per locals, was first attacked by bomb and several rounds of gunfires were exchanged for about 15-minute between the two parties.

When additional state forces in 45 vehicles rushed to incident site at Cement Factory from the district headquarters, the suspected NSCN (IM) cadres retreated from the area.

Whether there were any casualties on the side of the armed attackers is not known.

In the third ambush which took place at New Heaven, located about 10-km from Litan police station, one Manipur Rifles jawan was reported was shot in the leg.

But another report said that no one was hurt in the attack.

41 AR commandant Colonel Gaurav Bose was also on RoP duty around the site when the incident happened.

A source informed that the triple ambushes could have been carried out by NSCN (IM) cadres only as the tactical employed today strongly indicated the involvement of the Naga rebel group.

However, this could not be confirmed till the filing of this report.

As the news of ambushes spread like wildfire in the town, the shops downed their shutters and people hurried home.

Schools also suspended their classes and sent their students home early.

The sit-in protest of the Naga Women Union Manipur (NWUM) in Ukhrul town was also shifted to Dungrei junction from Gandhi Chowk.

Hundreds of women torchbearers held a dharna from 12-2PM and dispersed after a prayer meeting.

In another report, the state government has sent in replacement forces under the command of DIG (police) IK Muivah to be deployed in the district headquarters.

Meanwhile, an unconfirmed source said some civilians from Lambui (Ramva) village were whisked away by police commandos.

Womenfolks at TM Kasom and Litan are reportedly keeping vigil to stop the forces from taking the civilians to Imphal.

On the other hand, Governor VK Duggal reportedly met the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary at the Raj Bhavan after Tuesday's Ukhrul attacks.

It is understood that the Governor discussed various issues, apart from Ukhrul attacks at the meeting.