Manipur Ambush: Exclusive Photos from 4th June Ambush site in Chandel Manipur

Kanglaonline exclusive photo coverage from ground zero at ambush site, Parolon in Manipur’s Chandel district.

By Deepak Shijagurumayum.

Villagers roaming around with air gun at the ambush site at Paorolon, Chandel District, Manipur. Photo by Deepak Shijagurumayum.

A misleading calm hung over leafy Parolon in Manipur’s Chandel district on Friday 5th June, 2015, 24 hours after 18 soldiers of the 6 Dogra Regiment were gunned down here in an ambush by militants from three different groups – NSCN(K), KYKL and KCP.

6th Dogra Regiment’s truck ambushed by militants at Paorolon, Chandel District, Manipur. Photo by Deepak Shijagurumayum.

A live Improvised Explosive Device (IED), placed inside a pressure cooker, lay on the side of the road, about 20 km away from the Myanmar border, with parrot green sandbags placed in front to mark the area. The handful of soldiers guarding the spot halted the little traffic filtering in, sending them back. They were waiting for the bomb disposal squad.

IED bomb was implanted in a pressure cooker to ambush the Indian Army by militants at Paorolon, Chandel District, Manipur. Photo by Deepak Shijagurumayum.

“The bomb is still live. We arrived after the incident was over and have been here ever since. We are conducting searches. But the insurgents could very well have left for Myanmar. It’s difficult,’’ said a soldier from 6 Dogra Regiment.

Chinese made hand granade which was found at the ambush site at Paorolon, Chandel District, Manipur. Photo by Deepak Shijagurumayum.

Next to the IED lay an grenade that’s yet to be defused and the remains of the battle day before — the skeletons of two completely charred trucks, and two empty burnt RPG shells.

6th Dogra Regiment’s truck ambushed by militants at Paorolon, Chandel District, Manipur. Photo by Deepak Shijagurumayum.

On 5th June, New York Times reported: “At least 20 soldiers were killed and 11 are injured,” said Col. Rohan Anand, an army spokesman in New Delhi. “The army convoy was first blasted using improvised explosive devices followed by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire.”