Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 27 2010:
Two Junior Commission Officers (JCOs) 12 Madras Regiment at Khengjang post in Churachandpur district were shot dead by a jawan late last night, an official report said today.
The incident took place last night, at about 10.30 pm, and rifleman Ambati (Rif no.2606612), who deserted the post after shooting down the two officers, has been rounded up by the personnel of the same regiment latter around 12.30 am.
The jawan barged into a room where JCO 30-year old Mithu Jaya (JCO no.436737-M) of Tamil Nadu and 31-year old Thanapan (no.440311-K) of Kerala stay and shot them from close range with the service rifle issued to him, police source referring to a complaint lodged by the authority of the Madras Regiment said.
The Army has reportedly instituted a court of inquiry into the incident to ascertain Ambati's motive behind his attack on the Army officers, a PIB (Defense Wing), Imphal source here said.
Churachandpur police station has taken into custody the soldier to investigate into the incident and know the motive behind it.
A case has also been registered and interrogation to the soldier is on as part of investigation, police said.
Meanwhile, the dead bodies of the Army officers who instantly died at the spot were transferred at RIMS morgue, Imphal this after and performed postmortem.
The mortal remains of the officers will be sent to their respective home tomorrow after completing formality, the source said.
Both the bodies received several bullet injury marks all over the bodies.
Meanwhile, the Army today in a statement of the PIB (Defense Wing) expressed deep regrets on the loss of the live of two 'brave soldiers' in the 'senseless' act.
An FIR has been lodged and the individual has been handed over to the local police for preliminary investigations.
The Army has also order a high level inquiry into the incident and appropriate displinary action against the jawan, the statement added.
Monday's fragging incident was the seventh instants of which personnel of the Central security forces deploying in Manipur for counter insurgency killed their colleagues for one or other reason since 2005.The latest one being the decamping of a Assam Rifles jawan by killing six of his colleagues including a JCO.
On Jan 21, 2009, a jawan of the 17 Assam Rifles shot dead six of his colleagues including a JCO in interior Ukhrul district.
In July last year 2008 in another incident a jawan by the name Ashokumar of the Jammu and Kashmir Light shot dead a major Ankit Varandhwaj at one its post at Montuk in Chandel district.
In September 2005, a jawan of the 5th Assam Rifles killed four of his colleagues and wounded to one other following a heated argument inside the barrack of one of its post in Jiribam of Manipur.
The incident was followed by another incident of shooting to dead of his colleague by another jawan who also committed suicide in October 7 of the same year.
In November 3, 2006 also at Nongdum post of the 19 Assam Rifles in the same Ukhrul district where Wednesday incident occurred, a Havildar by the named committed suicide after killing his post commander.