SFs, PLA cadres trade gunfire in Baruni hills
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 17: A huge combined force made up of Imphal West and Imphal East commandos, 1st Bn Manipur Rifles, 32 Assam Rifles, 39 Assam Rifles and 116th Bn BSF were engaged in a heavy gun fight with suspected cadres of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) at Nongmaiching (Baruni Hills) this morning.

According to information received from the spot, a combined force of Imphal East, Imphal West commandos and troops of 32 and 39 ARs launched an extensive operation at Heikon, Terakhong and Tuisenphai villages in Nongmaiching area at about 5 am today.

Security reinforcement arrive at the encounter site and (inset) a deserted house after villagers fled the skirmish zone

The security team conducting operations at Heikon and Terakhong was led by SDPO of Imphal East and the combined team in Tuisenphai was led by Imphal East commando OC.

As a team of Imphal East commandos headed towards Nongmaipan village on the right side of the road from Sanjenbam in a Gypsy and a bullet-proof vehicle (407 mini-Tata), suspected UG cadres fired three lathode bombs towards the security team.

In the firing, one commando personnel identified as Jiten sustained injuries as a shrapnel grazed on his shoulder.

Even as the commando personnel immediately retaliated, the UG cadres made their escape towards Nongmaipan hills.

The commandos pursued after the UG cadres for some distance.

On receiving information of the lathode attack by the UG cadres, other security personnel conducting operations at Tuisenphai, Heikon and Terakhong rounded up the fleeing UG cadres from the other side of Nongmaiching Hills.

There two sides exchanged heavy firing for several minutes.

A little later, re-inforcements arrived from 39 AR troops, 116 Bn BSF under the command of Assistant Commandant of 1st MR Mubi.

Both the UG cadres and the combined force used heavy weapons such as lathode bombs, LMGs, two inch mortars and RPGs in the intense gun fight.

Even as the combined force was far superior in numerical strength, the PLA cadres enjoyed positional advantage as they were atop the hill.

Yet the combined force made their exit from the hills only at about 11.30 am.

It is still unclear whether there was any casualty on the part of the UG cadres.

According to police sources, the UG cadres involved in today's gun fight were PLA members led by one Krishna.

Subsequent upon the heavy firing by the combined force, the PLA cadres fled in two/three groups in different directions, claimed the police source.

On the other hand, consequent upon the exchange of fire at Nongmaipan village, almost all the villagers fled and took refuge in the homes of Takhel Mamang Leikai.

When this reporter reached Nongmaipan village, most of the houses were found locked while some others were left open.

According to a villager who was found there, PLA cadres armed with heavy weapons numbering about 40 arrived at Nongmaipan village last night at about 7 pm.

The village is inhabited by about 100 people.

This morning when the PLA cadres were leaving the village, a team of commandos came to the village resulting in the gun fight.

The fleeing Nongmaipan villagers were fed the morning meal at Takhel Mamang Leikai before they went to their village in the afternoon.