Source: Nagaland Post
Four security men including a JCO (Junior Commission Officer) were Saturday wounded when suspected cadres of NSCN (K) ambushed a convoy 2/5 Gorkha Rifles in Manipur’s Tamenglong district, police said. One of the personnel identified as rifleman Mingma Dorjee, was stated to be in critical condition with chest injuries.
Other wounded soldiers– identified as Subedar (JCO) Chitra Bahadur, rifleman Aan Singh and rifleman Gir Bahadur Thapa.
Police said that the ambush took place at Luwang Khunou village under Khoupum police station of Tamenglong district Saturday morning at around 8.15 a.m.
Reports said that a group of well-armed people suspected to be cadres of an underground group first exploded IEDs and then opened fire towards the convoy of the 2/5 Gorkha Rifles. There ensued a brief exchange of fire after the troops retaliated.
Police said that there was no report of any casualty on both the sides. The militants escaped taking advantage of thick forest area, police added.
Later, reinforcement was sent in, and a search operation was launched.
2 GR personnel killed: NSCN/GPRN
Meanwhile, NSCN/GPRN in a statement claimed that “two 8th Gorkha Rifles” personnel were killed and several injured. It said that the “People’s Army of Nagaland, NSCN, waylaid foot patrol of 8th Gorkha Rifles at around 8.30 a.m. between Ghoupum and Khungaron under Ghoupum PS, Manipur and killed two riflemen on the spot and more than a dozen injured”.
NSCN/GPRN said that the encounter which started in the morning continued till late afternoon. During the gun-fight, NSCN/GPRN said Gorkhas were retaliating with cover fire while the military choppers were doing several sorties to lift the injured and killed soldiers.
The press note pointed out that the “Naga inhabited areas of Manipur do not come under the effective coverage of the cease fire between NSCN/GPRN and GoI.”
