A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed in an ambush by Kuki militants at Mongbung village in Jiribam district on Sunday morning while another CRPF jawan and two state police commandos sustained bullet injuries in the attack.
As per sources, a combined team of 20th Battalion CRPF and Jiribam District Police conducted a search operation on Sunday around 9:30 am at Mongbung Village following the attack by Kuki militants towards Meitei villages on Saturday. However, during the operation, Kuki militants ambushed the security personnel.
The security forces also retaliated to the attack which resulted in an exchange of heavy gun-battle which lasted till 11.45 am. During the gun battle, one CRPF personnel identified as Ajay Kumar Jha, 43, of Bihar was hit by a bullet. He was evacuated to Jiribam District Hospital; however, the hospital authorities declared him 'brought dead'.
Meanwhile, another CRPF jawan sustained a bullet injury, and two state forces were also injured by bullets.
It is suspected that the Kuki militants may have suffered two fatalities and several injuries. One deceased militant has been identified as Thangboi, 20, from Mongbung Kuki village. Another militant, KLA cadre Haoneithang Vaiphei alias Brucelee, from Kangvai in Churachandpur district, is undergoing treatment at Silchar Medical College and is in critical condition.
In the ambush, the Kuki militants fired around 18 rounds of bullets at the windshield and sides of Jiribam Police gypsy which is assigned to officer in charge, inspector S Ibotombi of Jiribam Police. Despite the intense gunfire, he escaped injury as he quickly shifted to a bulletproof vehicle.
After the ambush, combined forces conducted a mass combing operation in various areas of Mongbung Kuki Village.
According to Manipur Police Control Room, on Sunday around 9 am, a team of Manipur Police and CRPF, while carrying out checking of security forces deployment, area domination and enquiry into last night firing incident at Mongbung village, Jiribam, was fired upon heavily with sophisticated weapons by suspected armed Kuki militants from multiple locations.
The security forces also retaliated and an encounter ensued for 15-20 minutes. In the firing incident, one CRPF driver namely, Ajoy Kumar Jha (43 years) son of Harischandra of Maghupur, Madhubani Bihar of C/20 CRPF was martyred, the police said.
Further, two personnel of Manipur Police namely, SI K Romendro and Rifleman Robindro sustained splinter injuries and were evacuated at Jiribam Hospital for medical treatment and are out of danger, the police said.
Reinforcement led by senior officials rushed to the site and ops is going on. Combing ops will continue to apprehend the culprits involved in the incidents, the police said, adding that it is monitoring the situation constantly and senior officers are in the district to supervise the security arrangement and also the ongoing combing operations.
It may be recalled that two CRPF personnel were killed and two injured after Kuki militants attacked a security force camp in Bishnupur District on April 27. The attack targeted an IRB Battalion camp situated at Naranseina, with bombs exploding inside the outpost of 128th Battalion of CRPF.
