3 soldiers killed in Manipur ambush

INCIDENT TOOK PLACE WHEN A PATROL PARTY OF 4 ASSAM RIFLES WAS AMBUSHED BY SUSPECTED MILITANTS WHO DETONATED AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

nIMPHAL:THREE personnel of Assam Rifles were killed and five others injured in an ambush in Manipur’s Chandel district near the Indo-myanmar border, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Wednesday’s incident took place when a patrol party of 4 Assam Rifles was ambushed by suspected militants by exploding suspected IED followed by firing at Khongtal area under Chakpikarong police station around 6.30 pm on Wednesday.

Though the people familiar with the matter have confirmed the incident, the Assam Rifles authority in the state is yet to issue any official statement till the filing of the report. The three Assam Rifles personnel who were reportedly killed at the ambush site have been identified as Havildar Pranay Kalita, Rifleman Methna Konyak and Rifleman Ratan Sapam, according to the source. Their bodies have been sent to a mortuary for necessary formalities while the injured personnel have been taken to a military hospital, the person familiar with the matter said. The five injured personnel are Sub Ngulkhotil Haokip, NK Sikander

Singh, Havildar Nitul Sarman,rifleman Anish Kumar Singh and Rifleman Sandeep Kumar,it added.most of them sustained injury at their hands, legs and shoulder.

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh strongly condemned the incident. In a condolence message, Biren said, “The country will always remember their martyrdom.” He also shared the grief of the bereaved families. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal also condoled the incident.

Meanwhile a combined force of armed groups-manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF), Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) and United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent (Ulfa-i)claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s ambush, according to a joint statement of MNPF,RPF and ULFA-I which was made available to media.