Photo: Indian Express
Using advanced ammunition like the rocket-propelled grenades(RPG) and automatic weapons, a group of insurgents on Thursday ambushed a military convoy incurring the lives of almost 20 army personnel in Manipur. The attack is being held as one of the worst in recent years.
A team of 6 Dogra Regiment was on a road opening patrol (ROP) as part of its daily routine along Tengnoupal-New Samtal road, about 80 km from Imphal, when it was attacked by an unidentified insurgent outfit first with a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED), a police official said in Imphal. Besides, around 11 are reported to be injured.
“20 armymen were killed and 11 injured in the attack,” Army spokesman Col Rohan Anand said in Delhi. A suspected insurgent was also killed, police stated.
The attack took place at 9 a.m. when the convoy reached a place between Paralong and Charong villages however exact details remain to be disclosed.
Manipur Home Secretary J. Suresh Babu suspected the involvement of Manipur rebel outfit Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in the deadly attack.
“This seems to be the work of PLA, with suspected support by the ‘KYKL’ group also. We are still waiting for more inputs to come in,” he added. Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) is a Meitei revolutionary organization in Manipur. A reinforcement party of the security forces was rushed to the spot for combing operation to nab the militants, police further remarked.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as mindless and very distressing. “Today’s mindless attack in Manipur is very distressing. I bow to each and every soldier who has sacrificed his life for the Nation,” he expressed via tweets.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, too, condemned the deadly terror attack.The Army will continue to work towards bringing peace and normalcy to the state, he stressed. Also, sincere condolences have been conveyed to their families, he concluded.
