Imphal, March 01: Despite the heavy gun battle between the militants and a joint security force team at Keibul Lamjao National Park on Feb 25, none of the Sangai has been found killed nor any substantial damage done to the National park.

K Premkumar Singh, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Park and Sanctuary) who conducted an inquiry at Keibul Lamjao to assess the damages, submitted his findings to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest S Singsit today, a highly placed source in the State Forest Department disclosed to The Sangai Express today.

Premkumar along with one Forest Ranger, who is in charge of Keibul Lamjao along with some subordinate staff manning the place visited the core area of the park on Feb 27.Except for a burnt down patch of land in one of the six UGs camps busted by the joint security team, there was hardly any large scale damage in the park, the report said.

There was no sign of any animal being killed or injured in and around the park during the encounter, it said adding that the staff of Thangbrem Yangbi area reported that they had no idea about the existence of any underground camps in the area prior to the incident.

When contacted, Premkumar said it would take a long time to assess the whole 20 Sq Kms large park minutely.

However, he has instructed the staff manning Keibul Lamjao to carry on inspecting the park.

The employees have also been directed to take photograph of any change in the features of the park, Premkumar further said.

Though the security personnel did not take any official permission for entering the park, they had intimated about their action to some of the employees, he added.

PCCF K Singsit said that according to the Wild Life Act, everyone should obtain official permission from the chief Wildlife warden to enter the park.

Mention may be made here that a joint team of State police consisting of commandos, IRB and army personnel, recovered a huge cache of arms and some incriminating documents after busting six hideouts at Keibul Lamjao on Feb 25.

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