Manipur Police on Tuesday refuted the baseless claims allegedly made by various organisations against CRPF and Manipur Police regarding the incident at Jakuradhor, Borobekra under Jiribam District on Monday, accusing the authorities of foul play.
A statement from the Manipur Police Control Room, briefed the facts behind the incident stating that on Monday at about 2.30 to 3 pm, militants with heavy sophisticated weapons including RPG and automatic weapons attacked Borobekra Police Station where IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) were given shelter as well as the CRPF Post located nearby at Jakuradhor.
It said that some nearby houses were damaged and burned down by the militants in the attack. Stating that the Civil Police and CRPF retaliated strongly, engaging in a heavy exchange of fire. minutes. It added that the situation was brought under control later after 40-45 minutes.
After the firing ceased, the area was searched, during which 10 dead bodies supposedly of armed militants in military fatigues were recovered along with war-like arms and ammunition, it stated. The recovered weapons include 3 AKs, four SLRs, two INSAS, one RPG, one Pump Action Gun, BP Helmets and Magazines and two arms of which were reportedly looted from Police Armoury, it maintained.
It asserted that the armed militants were not ambushed but were killed during the retaliatory firing by the security forces. Had the security forces not retaliated, the damage could have been much more, police said.
It further said that the armed militants were found to be from distant Churachandpur and Pherzawl Districts, and had traversed a long distance to Jiribam District for planning/ executing these attacks.
It stated that during the attack, one CRPF constable namely Sanjeev Kumar sustained bullet injury and was evacuated to Silchar Medical College, Assam and is under treatment. It added that reinforcement teams consisting of Assam Rifles, CRPF and Civil Police were deployed at the area.
It added that operations in and around Jakuradhor, under Borobekra Police Station, Jiribam District continue to flush out armed militants. It further mentioned that after the attack, 13 IDP civilians were found missing.
It informed that three IDP civilians were later rescued from Guakhal by Police and Assam Rifles. It mentioned that during further search in Jakuradhor village, which was burnt down by the armed militants, two dead bodies (one partially burnt) of civilian IDPs were found.
The victims have been identified as Maibam Kesho Singh, 75 years and Laishram Barel, 61 years, both from Modhupur, it said. Another person was found alive and rescued and another civilian IDP came back on his own to the Police Station IDP camp, it noted.
It further said that six civilian IDPs including three women and children each are still missing and asserted that search operations are underway to find them.
The statement also said that the situation in the state was tense but under control. It stated that search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts.
It maintained that movement of 2 vehicles along NH-02 with essential items have been ensured and strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and a security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles.
While, a total of 108 Nakas/Checkpoints were installed in different Districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley and Police detained no one in connection with violations in different districts of the state, it added.
It further appealed to the general public not to believe in rumours and be aware of false videos. It also advised them to confirm any circulation of unfounded videos by dialling rumour-free number - 9233522822 of the Central Control room and to return looted arms, ammunition and explosives to the police or nearest security forces immediately.
