Imphal, November 01 2008: Troops of the 57 Mountain Division claimed to have slain two cadres of the armed UNLF in an encounter in a remote location of Churachandpur district even as the armed organisation contended that massive destruction had been caused to a post of the Mountain Division by a strong UNLF force.

In addition to successfully thwarting an attempt by cadres of the UNLF to attack a border post of 57 Mountain Division on october 30 at about 8 pm, the troops gunned down two members of the armed outfit and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition, informed PIB (Defence Wing) in a release issued today.

Conveying that on receipt of intelligence report of the UNLF likely to attack the post (Beheng), Commanding Officer of the unit under the direction of the General Officer Commanding 57 Mountain Division planned to ensnarl the attackers, the PRO also maintained that a firefight ensued for 15 minutes.

As the firefight broke out the troops maneuvered around to trap the UNLF group and engaged them effectively from close range consequently gunning down two of them on the spot while the others fled living the dead and injured behind, the release stated.

Further informing that during subsequent search operation number of blood trails were found entering the Myanmar border suggesting high degree of casualties inflicted on the UNLF outfit, the PIB (DW) release also said on launch of combing operation in the morning lathode launchers, huge quantity of RPG, mortar shells, small arms ammunition and communication equipment were recovered from the slain duo.

The well executed retaliation has caused a major blow to UNLF which is already reeling under the pressure of security forces, it claimed.

On the otherhand, senior publicity officer of the proscribed UNLF Ksh Yoiheiba contended that taking into account damage caused to the security post the Indian Army suffering high number of casualty could not be ruled out.

Elaborating that cadres of the MPA's 292 Bn fired rockets and used sophisticated weapons during the attack of the Veng village security post which is located in Singhat sub-division of Churachandpur district at about 8 pm of October 30, Yoiheiba also conceded that UNLF lost two MPA cadres as they stepped on landmines planted in the vicinity of the Army post.

Detailing on the attack referred to as 'Operation Veng Clear', the UNLF publicity officer alleged that personnel of the security post had been harassing and denying sources of livelihood to Veng villagers whose main occupation include fishing in the Manipur river thereby constraining the UNLF to scheme the attack.

In the initial offensive lasting about 35 minutes rockets fired by the MPA cadres destroyed the sentry tower, power house of the post and three large barracks, Yoiheiba asserted that in an attempt to completely raze down the security post cadres of the 3rd Platoon narrowed in from the left flank of the military facility during which a series of landmine explosions took place killing the two MPA cadres.

Further conceding that objective of the UNLF to wipe out the security post did not materialise due to landmine explosions, Yoiheiba nevertheless observed that collateral damage caused to the post and two military chopper evacuating the injured tha deceased personnel suggest the scale of loss suffered by the security forces.

He also identified the deceased MPA cadres as Cpl (Army No.1305) Asangbam Athingba alias Bungomacha s/o A Shyamkishore of Chalou Maning Leikai and L/Cpl (1734) Ningthoujam Sangai alias Rajeshwor s/o N Rajen of Keibul Makha Leikai.

Sangai is informed to have succumbed to injuries at around 11.30 pm of the same day while Athingba passed away the next morning.

Conveying solidarity to suffering of the bereaved families, Yoiheiba highlighted that demises of Sangai and Athingbi is indicative of the fact that the Indian Army do not hesitate to plant landmines to repulse UG assaults.

Contrary to the Indian Army authorities blaming UNLF for landmine explosions and killing of innocent villagers it is the Army that rely on landmine in the vicinity of the Army post as well as scaterring them in and around villages as was evident from the casualties UNLF suffered during Veng army post assault, the senior publicity officer maintained.

Substantiating the contention, he asserted that apart from a number of civilians maimed due to landmine explosions the UNLF too had been enduring loss and injury of MPA cadres in similar incidents.

On May 27 (2008) MPA's Pte Heikrujam Thonba alias Robin s/o (L) H Krishnamohon of Wangjing Sorokhaibam Leikai got killed in a landmine blast when an MPA team attacked Aibol post of the Indian Army, he added.

Meanwhile, our Churachandpur correspondent S Singlianmang Guite informed of two bodies in combat attires and reportedly killed during an encounter along the Indo-Myanmar border being deposited at the District Hospital morgue.

Quoting police sources, Singlianmang conveyed that the two might have been killed by mortar shrapnel fired by troops of the 9 assam Rifles when their Behiang post was attacked on October 30 night.

There is no information regarding recovery of arms when the AR authorities filed the FIR which only mentioned of the deceased duo sporting tatoos with local female names.

Comment