IMPHAL, March 11: Atleast two Assam Rifles personnel including a JCO were killed and two sustained serious injuries in an ambush laid by suspected PLA cadres on the convoy of the 24 Assam Rifles CO at Kapang Khullen Junction under Tengnoupal Police Station Chandel district today.
According to reliable sources, the attack was carried out around 1.30pm when the convoy was returning back to Tengnoupal from the Command operating Base (COB) of the battalion located at Sita.
The deceased have been identified as driver rifleman MT Santosh, and JCO Murli (warrant officer) while the injured have been identified as one Ngamei Api and Pramod.
The convoy reportedly came under heavy firing after a series of IEDs bombardment and lathod bombs. The ambush took place about 22 kilometer east of the Tengnoupal Police Station.
It is also learnt that three IEDs were exploded as the first vehicle of the CO’s convoy reached Kapang Khullen which was followed by a volley of firing from sophisticated automatic weapons including rocket launchers.
The driver and a Junior Commission Officer who were travelling in the front of the convoy were killed instantly while two other personnel sustained serious injuries.
The Assam Rifles team also retaliated, however, the militants managed to escape soon after making thier swift attack.
The injured were airlifted from the ambush site to the Military Hospital Leimakhong using army helicopter.
The two are said to be in critical stage.
Meanwhile, a reinforcement team comprising of the Assam Rifles and the state police rushed to the spot and conducted a massive search operation in and around the area.
However, there were no reports of any arrest till the filling of this report.