IMPHAL, Feb 21: Two policemen were injured when suspected Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) militants attacked a motorcade of Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam as he went to hoist the Congress party’s flag in connection with the State Assembly election at his Khoupum Tampak residence today.
According to information culled from the spot, suspected ZUF militants attacked the Deputy Chief Minister four times before he reached his native village Gaidimjang, when he was at his native village and again after he had left Gaidimjang for Imphal.
The first attack was launched at around 7.50 am at Lubanglong Khunou (Namkaolong) Part II along Old Cachar Road about 6/7 Kms away from Khoupum Tampak.
The suspected ZUF militants first attacked a road opening party comprising of police and MR/IRB personnel. Even though the State forces retaliated, there was no casualty on either side.
The militants attacked a police team which came from the direction of Rengpang near Irang river at around 8.30 am.
No one was hurt in the ambush but the Gypsy in which Nungba SDPO Rocky Pao was travelling suffered some damages.
The Deputy Chief Minister arrived at Lubanglong Khunou (Namkaolong) Part I at around 9.30 am along with a large number of security escorts. Gaikhangam stayed there for sometime following the two consecutive attacks.
The road ahead was sanitised by a combined team of State forces, Central security forces and the army. Then Gaikhangam proceeded to his native village only with bullet-proof vehicles.
His supporters who were trailing his motorcade were allowed to proceed to Gaidimjang after sometime.
The militants launched another attack for the third time at Lubanglong Khunou Part II, some distance away from the spot where the first attack was launched, at around 12.30 pm when the Deputy Chief Minister was at his home. One police personnel was injured in the attack
The injured personnel has been identified as Yumnam Jinesh (34) of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai. He is an IRB man attached to police commando. He was on ROP duty when his team was attacked.
He was hit by a bullet on the right thigh and he has been brought to Imphal .
After Gaikhangam had left his village for Imphal, militants attacked State security forces who were heading for Imphal for the fourth time at around 3 pm along Old Cachar Road near the spot where the first attack was carried where the first attack was launched, at around 12.30 pm when the Deputy Chief Minister was at his home. One police personnel was injured in the attack
The injured personnel has been identified as Yumnam Jinesh (34) of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai. He is an IRB man attached to police commando. He was on ROP duty when his team was attacked.
He was hit by a bullet on the right thigh and he has been brought to Imphal .
After Gaikhangam had left his village for Imphal, militants attacked State security forces who were heading for Imphal for the fourth time at around 3 pm along Old Cachar Road near the spot where the first attack was carried out which left another police personnel injured.
The second victim has been identified as Head Constable Kh Bobo of Thoubal Kshetri Leikai. He sustained injury on the right elbow. It is not clear whether he was hit by bullet or he sustained the injury in some other way.
Source: The Sangai Express
