AR convoy attacked; Boy hurt in crossfire
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 29 2009: A 15 year-old boy was injured in crossfire when some unknown insurgents attacked a convoy of Assam Rifles at Itam Thongkhong under Lamlai PS in Imphal East district at about 2.55 pm today.

The incident happened at Itam Thongkhong on Imphal-Ukhrul highway about 2 km west of Lamlai PS.

While a convoy of seven vehicles of 23 AR, of which head quarter is located at Sangshak, Ukhrul, led by Col Sibaram was coming to HQ IGAR (South), Mantripukhri when the insurgents attacked it.

Combined troops checking a Maruti car abandoned by UGs; Bullet-hit Bolero of AR officer; some innocent workers being rounded up and made to sit on the roadside by combined troops; injured boy

An AR officer told this newspaper that the attackers were about four or five.

Some of them were travelling in a Maruti car which was driving very slowly from Itam Thongkhong towards Imphal.

As the convoy reached the Itam bridge two youths opened fire towards the convoy.

The attackers tried to escape together by the Maruti car.

However, as the AR troops retaliated and sent a volley of bullets towards the car, it drove into a ditch by the left side of the road.

Then those who were inside the car left the vehicle and fled.

Soon reinforcement of 34 AR and Imphal East district police commandos led by OC Inspector, Ksh Manihar and another team of Lamlai PS led by its OC rushed there.

The reports said, some of the UGs fled towards Kharasom while one of them escaped towards Huidrom.

The combined force fired intermittently while chasing the escaping UGs towards different directions.

The AR troops fired a number of bombs and many rounds.

But no one was arrested and there was casualty on both sides, report said.

However, a 15 year-old boy identified as Irungbam Uttam,son of I Kunjo, of Pungdongbam Awang Leikai, who was returning after leaving food for his mother, who was working in the paddy field, sustained injury on his left thigh when a stray bullet hit him.

A team of Lamlai PS took him to hospital for treatment.

His condition is stated to be not dangerous, reports from the spot said.

The boy is a student of Class VIII studying in Eternal English School, Sekta.

The combined security force recovered the Maruti car 800 (MN-0K 8059 gold colour), some live rounds of AK rifle from inside the car, one spring of magazine of AK rifle, one black pullover from near the car, a pair of shoes and an odd shoe.

Bullets marks were found on the car.

Bullets of the UGs also hit the wind shield of a Gypsy of the AR troops.

About five to six bullets hit the left side door of a Bollero in which the Colonel was travelling.

The combined force also rounded up eight men who were working for harvest in the field of one Ningombam Bino Devi at Pungdongbam.

They were found kept sitting on road side.

Markets at Challou, Lamlai and Pungdongbam Lamkhai were closed.

All passers by were checked and frisked by the combined force.