In the aftermath of the Manipur ambush last week, Indian agencies said on Tuesday that the Army and the Assam Rifles killed over 50 insurgents in two operations along the India-Myanmar border in Nagaland and Manipur.
Top government sources said most of the killings took place in encounters in Ukhrul and Chandel districts of Manipur. Along the Nagaland border, eight insurgents are believed to have been killed.
In another incident, three insurgents were reported killed as an improvised explosive device they were carrying went off.
“We are yet to receive the exact details of those killed in the encounters. Operations are still under way,” said a Home Ministry official.
Giving a briefing, the Army said it had engaged two groups of insurgents and “inflicted significant casualties”.
“Specific and credible intelligence was received about further attacks being planned within our territory … Early this morning, the Indian Army engaged two separate groups of insurgents along the Indo-Myanmar border at two locations, along the Nagaland and Manipur borders,” Major-General Ranbir Singh, Additional Director-General, Military Operations, said.
Though Army officials refused to give specific details, informed sources said special forces were likely to have been deployed.
While Army officials declined to say if the operations were carried out across the border in Myanmar, they said they were in “communication with Myanmar authorities” and expect such cooperation in the “future too.” Intelligence agencies believe that 25-27 militants had carried out the Manipur ambush, which claimed the lives of 18 soldiers from the 6 Dogra regiment.
