Two Army personnel were killed and two others critically injured after militants ambushed a post of 24 Assam Rifles, along the Manipur-Myanmar border, on Tuesday afternoon. The slain personnel included the commanding officer of the post, while the injured men are battling for their lives at the army hospital at Leimakhong.
The dead personnel have been identified as Junior Commissioned Officer S. Murali, the commanding officer of the post, and driver M.T. Santosh. Both of them died shortly after being airlifted to the Leimakhong hospital. The critically injured riflemen have been identified as Ngamei Abai and Pramod Kalai.
The militants, who attacked the Assam Rifles personnel, got away with four AK 47 rifles, six hand grenades, one Insas rifle and some ammunition. Search for the missing weapons in the nearby areas drew a blank.
The Assam Rifles personnel were travelling in four vehicles to inspect a post when at least six powerful remote controlled bombs were detonated near Kambang village, in Chandel district, and the militants subsequently opened fire.
Some of the terrified villagers fled the scene soon after the blasts and encounter. Those who were found inside the village were taken to a public ground, where men and women were detained separately. Police and Assam Rifles personnel are interrogating the villagers to ascertain the identity of the militants and to identify any collaborators among the villagers.
The underground organization, which orchestrated the ambush, has not made a claim so far.
