IMPHAL, Sept 28: A powerful roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) apparently planted by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exploded at Kwatha Khunou Lamkhai under Moreh Police Station, Chandel district on Friday killed three persons including two Assam Rifles jawans of 24 Assam Rifles – B Coy, Kwatha post and one civilian. Two more women civilians and four AR jawans were also injured in the attack.
Kwatha Khunou Lamkhai is located about 1 km from the village of Kwatha.It is located about 18 km northeast of Moreh Police Station and around 90 km from here.
The civilian killed in the blast is identified as one Ningthoujam Sananjao aged 55, son of late N Wahongshang, a resident of Kwatha Khunou Lamkhai, while the two jawans are identified as Jagendra Kaushik, a native of Alwar Bhawadi village, Uttarkhand and Kewal Singh of Sanaddi village in Shahpur district of Rajasthan.
The injured have been identified as Angom Kaboklei aged 45, wife of A Ito and Angom Ritu aged 35, wife of A Tomaljao, both residents of Kwatha village.
The duo was shifted to Moreh Hospital for treatment. Ritu was discharged from the hospital after receiving first aid as she suffered minor injuries on her left thigh but Kaboklei has been brought to Imphal for further treatment as the splinters hit in her head and the chest.
A team of Moreh Police Station led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Balaram, Officer-in-Charge O Doren and Officer-in-Charge of Moreh Commando Police, upon receiving the information about the attack, rushed to the site. In addition, Chandel Superintendant of Police Priyokumar and Brigadier Upendra Dwevedi, CO 26 AR also came at the spot.
Meanwhile, a release of Inspector General of Assam Rifles-South Sector-( IGAR-South) said in yet another incident of IED blast at kwatha Khunou, the CorCom (Coordination Committee of various militant groups operating in Manipur) has been instrumental in disturbing the fragile peace in Manipur by targeting local Meiteis of Kwatha and AR personnel.
In the blast on Friday at 1:15 pm near the village of Kwatha, one Manipuri man was killed and two women severely injured, the release added and said the injured were evacuated by the AR to the hospital in Imphal.
It added due to the IED blast, two jawans of AR namely riflemen Jagendra Kaushik from Uttarakhand and Kewal Singh of Rajasthan succumbed to injuries and four other jawans were also injured.
The Assam Rifles condemn the barbaric action carried out by CorCom whose cadres instead of directly facing the might of Security forces prefers to target civilians and AR personnel in a cowardice manner, it further said, adding it shows the frustration among the insurgent groups who are frustrated because of large number of their cadres deserting their camps and surrendering to the security forces.
The recent surrender ceremony at Headquarters IGAR (S) and peace initiative by various groups with security forces bears testimony to the fact that many underground groups have shown their faith in the security forces and the state Government and trust them to resolve all issues peacefully, the release added.
It added Assam Rifles will not be deterred by such violent and nefarious action of the underground activists and will continue to encourage misguided youths to join the mainstream. It also said the AR appeals to all underground groups and their cadres willingly to come forward for peace talks.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/three-including-two-jawans-killed-in-bomb-attack/
