Imphal: Suspected militants on Monday ambushed a Manipur Police ‘protection convoy’ that was on its way to prepare for the visit of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh near K. Sinam Village in Noney district, 28 km from Imphal. A security driver sustained injuries in the attack.
The ambush took place around 10:30 am along the Imphal-Jiribam road, sources in the security establishment confirmed.
The security team of Manipur Police was on its way to Jiribam for a ground assessment ahead of Singh’s visit to the district Tuesday when its vehicle came under fire along the National Highway-37, the sources added.
The driver, identified as Moirangthem Ajesh alias Bobo, was admitted to the Shija Hospital in Imphal for treatment. Singh visited the hospital to enquire about his condition.
Singh said that it was not an attack on him, but an attack on the chief minister of Manipur.
“For many years and days, we are facing such acts. But from now on, the government will give a befitting reply to show that there is rule of law in the state,” he told the media at Shija hospital.
“So far, we didn’t retaliate much to militants; waiting them to understand that we are all (together) in Manipur. But they are treating…as we are under their toes. We will definitely act,” Singh added.
The Manipur chief minister was planning to visit the restive Jiribam Tuesday in a helicopter, it is learnt. He returned from Delhi Monday afternoon after attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Meanwhile, a joint operation for area domination, involving police commandos and troops of the Assam Rifles, is currently underway. The convoy has returned to Imphal, security sources confirmed.
In the past few days, Jiribam has seen fresh violence with the recovery of the mutilated body of a 59-year-old Meitei man from a hillside Thursday evening. The deceased was identified as Soibam Saratkumar Singh from Jiribam’s Sorok Atingbi Khunou locality.
More than 250 people from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities have been displaced from Jiribam in the current spate of violence. A number of houses from both communities have been burnt. The district administrations of Jiribam and neighbouring Tamenglong issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC Friday, restricting movement of individuals in the sensitive areas.
Meanwhile, the Phaitol village authority in Tamenglong district issued a press statement Sunday, condemning the accusation levelled at one of the tribal villagers for the murder of Soibam Saratkumar. It urged for speedy investigation and for law to take its own course.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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