A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and five jawans of Assam Rifles were yesterday killed in an ambush by militants in Chande district of Manipur, near the Indo-Myanmar border
lImphal: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and five jawans of Assam Rifles were yesterday killed in an ambush by militants in Chande district of Manipur, near the Indo-Myanmar border.
“A convoy of Assam Rifles while returning after assessing a landslide area in Holingjang to the battalion headquarters location at Joupi in Chandel district of South Manipur had the encounter with a suspected Valley-based insurgent group,” said a defence ministry release.
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The insurgents detonated remote-controlled bombs and opened fire from several sides. The slain personnel belonged to 29 Assam Rifles.
The attackers also snatched four AK-47 assault rifles, an INSAS rifle, a light machine gun and ammunition, before fleeing the spot. The exchange of fire lasted about one hour.
It is suspected that two or more militant groups jointly carried out the attack. More troops were rushed to the area and a massive search operation is underway.
“The troops retaliated the insurgent fire effectively. However, the insurgents managed to get away under thick forest cover and bad weather,” the release added.
The area of the gunfight has been cordoned off and intensive combing operations have been launched to neutralise the insurgents.
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