Hmar trio slain, cops hurt in Assam encounter
Source: Chronicle News Service
Guwahati/Imphal, July 17 2024:
At least three suspected Hmar militants were killed and three police personnel suffered injuries in a fierce encounter in Cachar district of Assam on Wednesday.
The deceased militants, identified as Lalungngawi Hmar (21) s/o Lalremsang Hmar and Lalbikung Hmar (33) s/o Lal Thavel, both from K Bethel Bhubankhal Dilkhush Grant, Assam; and Jojuwa (35) s/o Tiyangmingthang of Senvon Lailak, Tipaimukh, Churachandpur district, were part of a larger group, which was preparing to carry out "subversive activities" along the Assam-Manipur border areas, a senior police officer said.
"In an early morning operation, @cacharpolice killed three Hmar militants from Assam and neighbouring Manipur.
Police also seized two AK rifles, another rifle and one pistol," Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on X.Addressing a press conference later, Cachar SP Numal Mahatta said that police received input around 4.30pm Wednesday regarding movement of suspected militants along the Krishnapur road area under Kachudharam police station.
"A police team rushed to the location.
Three people, namely Lalungngawi Hmar, Lalbikung Hmar and Jojuwa were arrested along with sophisticated weapons near Ganganagar Part-6 while on their way towards Bhuban Hills in an autorickshaw," he said.
Mahatta said that as per preliminary investigation, the apprehended trio were members of a Hmar extremist organisation and trained cadres.
Two of them were from Cachar and one from Churachandpur in Manipur.
From them, one AK-47 rifle, a single-barrel rifle and one pistol were recovered along with live ammunition, he added.
"During interrogation, they revealed that some of their cadres were hiding in a nearby jungle in Bhuban Hills and planning to carry out some subversive activities along the Assam-Manipur border with a huge cache of arms," the SP said.
Subsequently, a special operation was launched led by the district additional SP along with commandos on the Bhuban Hills side for apprehending more militants on the basis of inputs provided by the three arrested insurgents, who accompanied the security forces.
"The moment we reached there, they started indiscriminate firing.
Six-seven militants were hiding at the spot.
The police team immediately retaliated.
There was heavy exchange of fire from both the sides," Mahatta recounted.
The apprehended militants, who were wearing bulletproof jackets and helmets, suffered grievous injuries during the encounter and were immediately shifted to Sonai Primary Health Centre and later to Silchar Medical College and Hospital, where the attending doctor declared them dead, he said.
The SP also said that three police personnel got severely injured during the exchange of fire and were admitted at the SMCH.
"On the other hand, the six-seven militants managed to flee, taking cover of the darkness and uneven terrain," Mahatta said.
The place was thoroughly searched and police recovered one more AK-47 rifle along with live ammunition and a number of empty cases, he said.
"The entire area has been cordoned off by security personnel and a search operation is being carried out to trace the fleeing militants," he informed, while adding that the police station concerned has registered a case and further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, a senior official at Assam Police Headquarters in Guwahati confirmed to PTI that some of its personnel also sustained injuries.
"But we cannot immediately say about the nature of injuries.
We are yet to receive a report from the Cachar district police," he said.
According to a source, three militants were killed in the gunfight, which lasted more than an hour, while three policemen also sustained bullet injuries.
"All the injured have been admitted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for treatment," he added.
(With inputs from PTI) .
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