Manipur: Massive search operation underway to track down insurgents

Imphal, Jun 5: A massive combing operation was underway today to track down insurgents in areas of Chandel district of Manipur where 18 Army jawans were killed and 11 others injured in an ambush on Thursday, police sources here said.

The search operation was being conducted at Paralong, Charong, Moltuh and some other areas to track down the insurgents who had launched attack on the army jawans, the sources said.

They, however, could not say whether anyone was detained or arrested in connection with yesterday's incident, saying that the search operation was being conducted by the Army and Assam Rifles personnel.

The Army or Assam Rifles could not be contacted. In the worst such attack in two decades, insurgents had ambushed a military convoy in Manipur's Chandel district killing at least 18 Army personnel and injuring 11 others.

Army and civilian authorities suspect the involvement of Manipur rebel outfit Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei revolutionary organisation, which used landmines, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons in the ambush.

The area where army personnel were ambushed is about 15-20 kms from India-Myanmar border.

PTI