IMPHAL, November 11: At least two personnel of 26 Assam Rifles have been killed and three others critically injured in a fierce encounter between suspected valley-based militants and F Company of the 26 AR that took place today at Behiang Village area under Churachandpur District near Indo-Myanmar border.
In the encounter, warrant officer of Behiang Post, 26 AR, PK Sharma from Silchar and rifleman Ramchandran were killed.
The three critically injured personnel of AR were airlifted to the 57 Mountain Division Military Hospital at Leimakhong.
The identity of two of the injured personnel are known and they are rifleman Sureshkumar, 28, rifleman Anje Neyulu, 32. However, the name of the third injured personnel cannot be ascertained.
At the time of filing this report, the bodies of the deceased personnel were still at the RIMS morgue for post mortem.
According to police source, the incident happened when the AR personnel of Behiang post went to fetch water on their water tanker from a water source known as Sehken. As soon as the AR team reached Zogal Memorial School of Behiang, an IED which was already planted exploded just near the water tanker.
The source continued that the explosion was followed by a volley of gunfire by the suspected UG cadres towards the AR team. Subsequently the AR team returned the gunfire, resulting in a fierce gun battle.
It has been learnt that within a short time the UGs cadres escaped passing through 1 Kanan Village near Border Pillar No: 43.