Moreh, January 20: One Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army was reportedly killed when underground activists launched an offensive against the security personnel with sophisticated weapons early today morning at Parbung area in Churachandpur district.

The attack took place while the troops were advancing towards the area to launch intense CI operations.

The identity of the slain Lt Col has been established as Rajiv Bakshi.

Confirming the report of the attack, a PIB (Defence Wing) statement, said troops of Red Shield Division began its operations in the interior areas of Tipaimukh sub-division in Churachandpur district in the early hours of today.

The advancing columns confronted well entrenched undergrounds armed with sophisticated weapons at a number of places, said the statement and added that in the ensuing encounters the Army has so far eliminated four UNLF cadres and recovered four AK-47 Rifles along with a large quantity of ammunition, explosives and prepared IEDs.

The Army suffered one fatal casualty, said PIB.

Meanwhile, Jiribam police have registered a case and the body of the Lt Col has been taken to the Silchar Mashimpur Army Hospital.

In another development, out of the four security personnel including three personnel of 26 Rajput Rifles, who drowned when their boat capsized at Barak river while going towards Parbung on January 17 for launching a mass operation, only two bodies have been recovered so far.

The identities of the personnel whose bodies have been recovered are Rifleman of 26 Rajput Rifles Abhilkumar Nayar and Dinglien s/o Gunadhor of Sotobekra.

The bodies of Subedar V Mohon and Lance Naik Sitaram Rajkuwar of 26 Rajput Rifles are still missing.

The body of Rifleman Abhilkumar Nayar was taken to Jiribam yesterday without conducting post-mortem while Dinglien's body has been handed over to family members after the post-mortem.

According to report, the father of Dinglien, Gunadhor was killed when a bomb planted by suspected underground activists exploded at Phairenthang Pungi some six months back.

Meanwhile a reliable source informed The Sangai Express that the Army suffered heavy casualties at Jiribam and CCpur side today.

The source said that troops of 18 Garhwal Rifles and 26 Rajput Regiment suffered heavy casualties at Jiribam while troops of 3 Raj Rifles met the same fate at CCpur.

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