Imphal, Sep 11: An Assam Rifles jawan was killed and another injured during a fierce encounter with some well equipped unidentified militants along the hill range of Sandangsenba Maring village under Irilbung police station early this morning around 3 am.
According to an official source, the incident occurred when heavy troops of 28 Assam Rifles F Coy posted at Canchipur, on getting specific information on the presence of the some armed UGs at Sandangsenba Maring village rushed to the hill range of Tamra hills leading to Sadangsenba in the wee hours.
The official source further mentioned that as the AR troops completed their cordon operations in the settlement areas of Sandangsenba Maring village at about 3 am, well equipped UGs who were taking shelter at the extreme outskirts of the village immediately fired upon the approaching AR troops to which the AR troops retaliated resulting in an fierce encounter from both sides which lasted for about 45 minutes near the hill range of Tamra under Irilbung police station.
The source said during the course of the encounter, two jawans got injured by bullets and one among them succumbed to his injuries at the spot. The other jawan was evacuated to the RIMS hospital early in the morning for treatment.
The source further mentioned that the armed UGs managed to make good their escape from the encounter site while firing heavily towards the security forces and taking advantage of the darkness and the hilly terrain. The troops followed on the track taken by the UGs and found out that some of the UG cadres could have been injured in the encounter as blood stains were found on the vegetation along the escape route.
Meanwhile, the injured AR jawan identified as Ram Singh of Almora village of Uttarakhand state is under treatment at the RIMS hospital after he sustained bullet injuries. He is stated to be out of danger.
The AR jawan who died at the spot during the encounter this early morning near the Sandangsenba Maring village was also later identified as Bishwanath Kasav, 32, son of Bikhari Kasav of Ranchi. His dead body was collected by the AR authorities after post mortem at the RIMS morgue this afternoon, the source added.
On getting official information of the encounter a heavy reinforcement from the Assam Rifles from Yairipok areas and police commando teams from both Imphal East and Thoubal district rushed to the area and conducted massive operations along the Tamra hill range till this afternoon. There was, however, no report of arrest of any suspects during the operation, the police source added.