Three commandos killed in Manipur ambush

Three police commandos were killed and another seriously injured in an ambush by Manipur ultras at Khordak area in interior Bishenpur district.

Three police commandos were killed and another seriously injured in an ambush by Manipur ultras at Khordak area in interior Bishenpur district, official sources said on Friday.

The ambush took place Thursday evening when commandos attached to Imphal police station went to Khordak following reports that insurgents were telling villagers not to cast their votes in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state on April 26, the sources said.

When the commandos reached the spot, about 35 kms south, they were fired upon from highly sophisticated weapons by about 20 insurgents, the sources said, adding the security men retaliated forcing the insurgents to retreat into the nearby jungles.

The commandos chased them and were faced with fresh firing and blasting of powerful grenades. As the gunbattle intensified, police and Assam Rifles teams led by Superintendent of Police of Imphal West district S Ibomcha Singh were rushed to the spot to join forces.

Three commandos were killed on the spot and another sustained serious injuries in the exchange of fire that lasted for several hours. The insurgents escaped into deeper jungles after about four hours and casualty, if any on their side, was not known.

The police continued their search operation in the area on Friday but no arrests were made so far, the sources said.

The bodies of the victims, identified as N James, Ahen and Amumacha Singh were handed over to their families today and the injured Abdul Heli was stated to be out of danger.

The sources said while the identity of the insurgents was yet to be known, separatist United National Liberation Front had earlier called for complete boycott of the Lok Sabha polls in the state to help intensify its movement.