Suspected militants ambushed a column of 24 Assam Rifles personnel at Nambisha in Ukhrul district on Sunday afternoon. A remote controlled bomb was detonated while the personnel were on foot patrolling in the mountain road. Though sources said that there were some casualties no official confirmation is available as yet.
In another incident a Chinese-made hand grenade was hurled on Sunday at the house of Ranjit Takhellambam, collector of Thoubal district. Family members found the unexploded grenade early in the
morning. Several women staged a sit-in protest at Pishum Oinam Leikai in Imphal where the house of the collector is located.
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Meanwhile the Zeliagnrong Students' Union, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur and Naga Women's Union have strongly condemned the arrest of three alleged militants by personnel of 10 Assam Rifles at Noney in
Tamenglong district on October 17. The arrested persons identified as J. Panmei, K. Kamei and L. Panmei were accused of being militants of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang). They were duly
handed over to the police the following day. Talking to reporters the activists demanded immediate and unconditional release of these persons contending that they are innocent persons.
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On the other hand, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi says that police alone could normalise the situation in the Imphal city. He was referring to the recurring bomb blasts in the city areas claiming lives of some
migrant workers. He however said that the government is soft-pedaling since such a police crackdown will cause hardships to the law abiding common people.