Blow by blow account
MR man dies in re-poll related ops
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 31: A rifleman of the 7th Manipur Rifles got killed while State forces busted a camp suspected to be the hideout of the armed Kuki Revolutionary Army in the course of a massive operation conducted in the adjoining areas of Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency.

The operation launched in the hilly pockets of Saikul sub-division is said to be in connection with the sanitisation of specific locations as pre-emptive measures for the June 2 by-election in Khundrakpam AC.

The said operation conducted by a combined team of State security forces specifically centred around Gangpijang and nearby hill ranges located under the jurisdiction of Saikul police station.

Cops take positions during the crackdown at a camp of the Kuki Revolutionary Army somewhere in Saikul

According to an informed source, build-up to the operation ensued from late night yesterday with security teams from nearby posts closing in from various directions towards Gangpijang.

The operation is informed to have been conducted under the command of Additional Superintendent of police of Imphal East district Th Radheshyam with the security personnel made up of commandos of Imphal East and West districts, IV IRB personnel attached to 1st and 2nd MR and a company strong personnel of Khabeisoi-based 7th MR.Even though the strong security team reached Gangpijang village by late night yesterday they reportedly retreated upto the nearby Ikou village only to encircle the former location again by daybreak.

At around 6 am today a fierce gunfight reportedly broke out with some militants holed up in the upper reaches of Gangpijang.

When this reporter went to Gangpijang village at around 10.15 am, IRB personnel could be observed taking positions at the approach road of the village.

With the securitymen cautioning from proceeding further as the militants were incessantly firing from the upper ranges, the media persons, faced with the uncertain situation, had to lay down on roadside ditches with their cameras ready even as the IRB men readied themselves for more intense battle.

Soon after the security personnel could be seen launching about 4/5 two inch mortars towards the hill range even though no firing could be heard from the opposite direction at that moment.

As other security teams that had already closed in towards the encounter site wired for reinforcement the scattered personnel along with the media persons moved and reached an open space (ground) in Gangpijang village where body of an MR rifleman was found lying in a vehicle.

identity of the killed soldier has been established as rifleman Reiya Mohn (24) of Somdal village in Ukhrul district who was in the A Company of 7th MR (092006019).Reiya was part of the MR contingent, actually assigned with repoll-related duty in Khundrakpam, that completed training on May 18 this year.

Choked with emotion on losing their colleague (Reiya) some among the young soldiers were overheard questioning indecision of officers leading the operation besides expressing reluctance when the newly inducted ones were asked to leave the combat zone during fall-in held at around noon.

Daring to take on the militants some of them, speaking on condition of anonymity, posed why they have been brought in the first place if they are to be ultimately asked to leave even before completion of their assigned task.

Shortly after State forces trickled out from Gangpijang village a column of para-military force showed up.

Along with some villagers the media team walked to the nearby upper range and came across a destroyed hideout informed to have been used by KRA cadres, and found utensils and other food items scattered.

About 400 feet upward of Gangpijang village a military-like large bunker was observed with about ten more similar structures but smaller in size found a little distance from the first one.

The dug-outs had bamboo walls to hold the ground and were draped with polythene sheets.

Not less than 3/4 blankets were discovered in each of the bunkers in addition to mosquito repellents (coil).

Reiya is said to have fallen to firing from the upper ranges while trying to set ablaze the blankets.

He was reportedly hit by about seven bullets.

the villagers informed that the armed cadres had been occupying the said site since May 22 and numbered around 40.They further alleged of the security personnel decamping with Rs 5000 from the residence of one Somang Kipgen, scattering household goods apart from causing damage to properties of Lamting Haokip and Lunlal Haokip all from Gangpijang village.

Other than physical harassment of two village youths identified as Seilenhao and Paokholun there is no report of atrocities by the security forces.

The armed activists reportedly fled towards the direction of Langkhao, Thangkal and Lamkajang villages located on the other side of the hill range that also connects to Sapermeina approach road.

While the media team were preparing to leave the village, Gangpijang chief Thonglen Haokip conveyed a fervent appeal to both the Government forces and UG groups to give safety concerns of the village topmost priority.

Meanwhile, body of Reiya has been handed over to family members after post mortem at RIMS morgue.