A patrolling team of 20th Assam Rifles was ambushed by militants using an IED at an area between Narum and Saibol under Tengnoupal Police Station in Tengnoupal district around 8 am on Thursday, following which an exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the militants ensued.
As per sources, the AR team suffered no casualties as they were travelling on a Casspir vehicle. The proscribed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has reportedly claimed responsibility on its Facebook page for the ambush against the AR at the spot between Narum and Saibol.
Tengnoupal Police Station has not received any information from the Assam Rifles concerning the reported ambush, sources said.
Meanwhile, the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) issued a clarification, stating that none of its cadres were involved in the attack on centre security forces at Saibol-Narum village as claimed by a local news channel.
UKLF honors and respect the SoO agreement signed with the government, stated a release issued by its joint secretary T James. Saibol-Narum village is a Maring village whereby UKLF does not have its presence in the area, it added.
Our Kangpokpi correspondent has added that the Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal has condemned the attack in the strongest terms. The attack on the 20 Assam Rifles came barely three days after the Ministry of Home Affairs declared several Meitei militant groups as outlawed, it stated.
Meanwhile, Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) organised a wreath laying ceremony on November 15, 2023 for Rfn/GD (Late) Jai Prakash Oraon, Shaurya Chakra, of 4 Assam Rifles who was killed in action on November 15, 2017.
Rfn/GD (Late) Jai Prakash Oraon, SC was part of a Road opening party from Chamol Top to Sajik Tampak when at 5.30 am on November 15, 2017 the team was fired upon by an insurgent group in which Rfn/GD (Late) Jai Prakash Oraon, SC sustained bullet injury in middle of the chest. Before succumbing to the fatal shot, he neutralised one UG and injured one more insurgent.
