India to take up rebels issue with Myanmar

Manipur ambush: Defence Ministry orders internal enquiry

Even as the security agencies are on the hot pursuit of those behind the ambush by insurgents in Manipur on Thursday, the Defence Ministry has initiated an internal enquiry into the procedural and intelligence failure that led to the killing of 18 soldiers.

The lapses could be either with the road opening parties which failed to detect the Improvised Explosive Device (IED), or intelligence failure in ascertaining that insurgent groups had conducted reconnaissance over a period of time to zero in on a stretch, where the Army convoys could be targeted in Chandel.

While the Khaplang faction of the Naga insurgent outfit, National Socialist Council of the Nagaland (NSCN), has claimed responsibility for the ambush, security agencies believe that members of Meitei groups the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) were also involved.

As the insurgents are suspected to have crossed over to Myanmar, India will soon share fresh information on their camps, including images, with the Myanmar government seeking a prompt crackdown. The Indian Army is gearing up for a coordinated action with their counterparts in the neighbouring country.

Army chief reviews situation

Following a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh on Friday rushed to Chandel to review the ground situation. He was briefed by the 3 Corps commanders and top police officials, Army sources said.In a message to the Army chief, the Supreme Commander of the armed forces President Pranab Mukherjee called up the security agencies to work in close concert to bring the perpetrators of the heinous attack to justice. “Such random attacks on security forces performing their duty must be put down with a firm hand,” he said in his message.

The attack comes over two months after the NSCN-Khaplang on March 27 unilaterally withdrew from the ceasefire agreement signed with the Indian government in 2001.

“The very fact that rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons were used suggests that arms are being supplied to the insurgent groups by organised syndicates apparently backed by some foreign intelligence agency,” said an official.