IMPHAL June 6: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio condemned the ambush on the 6 Dogra Regiment this morning in the strongest term saying that violence will not bring any solution.
He was briefing media persons at his office, South Block Secretariat this evening.
The ambush is a very tragic and rare case, and such mindless act of violence should be condemned in the strongest term, Gaikhangam said.
`I, on behalf of the State, condemn the mindless act.`
The State also shares the grief of such loss with all the families and friends, he continued.
We also hope that the injured would recover well, he said.
According to officials, the death count has been confirmed at 17 personnel including a Junior Commission Officer and one militant, while 16 were injured, he said.
Gaikhangam also said that the death toll may however increase, since some of the injured are in critical conditions, he said.
However, unofficial claims have also placed the number of death to 20 personnel, he added.
It is unfortunate that we are unable to impress upon the Centre or the complete removal of the AFSPA from the State due to such punctuations, he lamented.
It is indeed a big blow to the discourse for removing AFSPA, he continued.
To a query on the State`™s response to the ambush, the Home minister said since the location is along the international border area, all decisions will be taken in consultation with the Centre and the State will provide all possible co-operation to the Centre.
Meanwhile, the Chandel Naga People`™s organization (CNPO), Naga Women Union Chandel (NWUC), Sulam Area Chiefs`™ Association (SACA), Lamkang Naga Kver Kunpun and Paraolon Village authority have strongly condemned the ambush today.
President of CNPO Ws Kanral Anal expressed condolence on behalf of the 7 Naga tribes of the district and conveyed the sufferings and pain the organization shared with the bereaved family of the jawans.
Kanral fervently appealed to the militant groups concerned involved not to repeat such incident in the future, such incident according to him will only trouble the common innocent people.
Kanral also in his statement appealed to the security personnel to refrain from punishing the innocent civilian aftermath of the incident.