MOREH, September 28: A powerful IED blast in Chandel district today claimed at least three when a device planted by suspected undergrounds exploded killing three instantly and injuring two other civilians.
The armed wing of the outlawed United national Liberation Front (UNLF) Manipur Peoples’ Army has claimed responsibility for the ambush.
A MPA spokesperson has said, the ambush was carried out by a mobile unit of MPA operating in Chandel district and that 4 Assam Rifles personnel were killed while 10 others were injured in the said ambush. Meanwhile, the MPA cadres which had carried out the ambush had safely returned to base.
Police sources said, the incident occurred around 12:45 pm at Kwatha Khunou Lamkhai on the Imphal-Moreh stretch of NH-2. The incident occurred when personnel of 24 Assam Rifles, B-Coy was on daily patrolling.
A civilian was also instantly killed by the blast. The identity of the killed is identified as Ningthoujam Sanajao, 55 years, son of (L) Wahongshang of Kwatha Village.
The 24 AR personnel killed in the blast is identified as Gajendra Kaushik- R/No. 5007966 of Alwar Bhawadhi, Rajasthan and Kewal Singh-R/No. 2402068 of Sanaddi village in Shahpur district of Himachal Pradesh.
The two injured were identified as Angom Kaboklei, 45 years, wife of Angom Ito and Angom Ritu,35 years, wife of Angom Tomaljao, both resident of Kwatha Village.
The injured were soon rushed to Moreh hospital. Angom Ritu was later discharged from the hospital. However, as the other injured Angom Kaboklei happens to be serious, she was later referred to Imphal for treatment.
Soon after the blast, SDPO, Moreh Police and many others accompanying him rushed to the site. Superintendent of Police, Chandel District E Priyokumar also rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.
A news statement issued by the PRO, Assam Rifles blamed Corcom as responsible to the blast. The statement termed Corcom as “instrumental in disturbing the fragile peace in Manipur by targeting the locals”.
Terming the act as barbaric, the statement added undergrounds are targeting civilians instead of facing security forces. This simply has ‘frustrated’ the public.
While warning that the Assam Rifles will not be deterred by such violent and nefarious action, the statement said, the recent surrender drama is a testimony that undergrounds have shown their faith in the peaceful coexistence, added the statement.