IT News
Imphal, Jan 17:
In a grievous incident, at least two state security personnel lost their lives, and two others were injured in a meticulously planned terrorist assault perpetrated by Kuki terrorists in Moreh on Wednesday.
The first victim, identified as IRB Jawan W Somorjit from Malom, and the second, Havildar Takhelambam Saileshwor from Akham, fell victim to the ruthless attack. While the remains of Somorjit and the two injured personnel have been promptly airlifted from Moreh, reaching the International Airport around 2:15 pm, the airlift for Havildar Saileshwor is still pending.
The harrowing events unfolded in the early hours as IRB Jawan W Somorjit, dedicatedly serving with the Manipur Police Commandos, faced a fatal ambush around 3:25 am. Positioned at an IRB post near the Kondong Lairembi Temple, Somorjit became the target of assailants who launched a vicious assault employing grenades, swiftly followed by a hail of gunfire.
In the aftermath of the tragic incident involving the loss of an IRB personnel earlier in the day, T Ranjit Singh, the Commissioner of Manipur’s Home Department, urgently reached out to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday. In a formal communication, Singh specifically requested the immediate deployment of “air assets” or helicopters to be stationed in Imphal for a minimum duration of seven days. The appeal was made in response to pressing “emergency requirements” arising from the recent incident.
Ranjit expressed grave concern over the escalating law and order situation in the border town of Moreh, where ongoing exchanges of gunfire have resulted in the unfortunate demise of an IRB personnel that morning. Anticipating a potential deterioration in the prevailing circumstances in Moreh, he emphasized the imminent need for air support due to the unpredictable nature of medical emergencies that could arise at any moment.
In his correspondence, Singh highlighted the critical role of helicopters in addressing the crisis, including the timely airlifting of security personnel, ammunition, and other essential resources to Moreh. The urgency of the situation was underscored by the Police Department, further emphasizing the imperative for swift intervention to prevent any further escalation of the crisis on the ground.
On October 31 of the previous year, Chingtham Anand Kumar, a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) serving in the Manipur Police, met a tragic end when he was fatally shot in Moreh. In a recent development on Monday evening, law enforcement apprehended two individuals, namely Philip Khaikholal Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate, asserting that they were identified as “among the main suspects” in the homicide of Anand Singh.