BRO water tanker attacked along Indo-Myanmar border ; Two local men killed, many decry
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, April 29 2017: Two labourers engaged with the BRO/GREF were killed along the Indo-Myanmar border today when a heavily armed group reportedly waylaid the water tanker they were travelling in with IEDs, and fired a volley of bullets on them at around 7.50 am, local sources said.

The driver of the water tanker identified as Lallianmang (40) of Behiang and his helper identified as Ginlam Khaute, (50) both engaged by the BRO were killed on the spot.

They were reportedly attacked in between Khenman village in Myanmar and Behiang in India while transporting water meant for the Indian army posted at the border village. There are no official words on who the attackers are but several CSOs have swiftly condemned the incident.

BRO water tanker attacked along Indo-Myanmar border

It is learnt that several CSOs from Behiang area and from Singngat sub-divisional managed to enter the area later in the afternoon and retrieved the bodies from the water tanker.

As the Indian army had prohibited locals from entering the ambush site for hours after the incident, it is likely that the dead bodies will reach the district headquarters only late at night.

Today's ambush comes a day after an IED was detonated in between Behiang T and Sialsih village along Tiddim road by miscreants which left a wide crater on the road.

That blast however caused no casualty.

Meanwhile, as reports about the ambush and the deaths spread, many volutnary organisations have strongly condemned the attack.

The Zomi Council (ZC), Zomi Students' Federation and the Zomi Human Rights Foundation have condemned the attack for targeting civilians.

In a statement, ZC said that it is outraged, appalled and anguished over the 'barbaric killing of the the two men in between Suangphu and Khenman by suspected militants.

ZC said such provocative violent acts will not cow them down and called on the perpetrators of the attack to desist from such violence in the future.

The ZSF said it strongly condemns the attack and called on the Central security forces to be more vigilant so as to avert such fatal attacks in future.

It also urged the group concerned to maintain dignity and exercise restraint to avoid civilian casualty.

The ZHRF on the other hand said such acts of terror is against humanitarian laws and is an insult on the rights and dignity of peace loving indigenous Zo people living at the Indo-Burma border.

The organisation concerned must stop such acts "in our area and we are requesting the States on both side of the border to ensure security in the area and protect the innocent indigenous people," it said .

It also condemned the IED blast along Tiddim road on April 28 and added that Tiddim road is the only link-road connecting Chin State in Burma with Manipur on the Indian side since the colonial days.

Planting of explosives along it is a threat to the innocent people, a challenge to National security and an attempt to sabotage the hard-earned peace and tranquillity prevailing in the area, it said.