THREE COMMANDOS KILLED IN MANIPUR AMBUSH

24 April 2004, (ANI)

Imphal, Apr 23 (ANI): At least three police commandos were killed and one seriously injured in an ambush by Manipur ultras at Khordak area in Bishenpur district, here Friday.



According to official sources, 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.



When the commandos reached the spot, about 35 kms from here, they were fired upon from highly sophisticated weapons by about 20 insurgents, the sources said adding that 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 SSP (Imphal West) S. Ibomcha Singh were rushed to the spot to join forces.



The commandos were killed instantly in the exchange of fire that lasted for several hours. The insurgents escaped into dense jungles after about four hours and casualty, if any on their side, was not known.While the police continued their search operation in the area, no arrests were made so far, the sources said.



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