GUWAHATI: Four policemen were killed and at least nine others injured when their convoys came under attack from suspected militants of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) in Manipur’s newly-created Tengnoupal district on Thursday.
The attacks were carried out on two road-opening parties (ROPs) of the police at two different locations between 6.30 am and 7.30 am. The personnel were travelling to Tengnoupal district headquarters in connection with security arrangements.
“In the first incident, the police personnel were travelling from Moreh (on the India-Myanmar border) in a convoy of three vehicles when they came under attack at Lokchao. Two head constables died on the spot, while nine others sustained injuries,” Manipur’s Director General of Police (DGP) L M Khaute told Express.One of the injured policemen later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Khaute said a havildar was killed in the second incident when the police convoy was ambushed by the insurgents at Bongyang. The police team was moving from Thoubal in Imphal valley. He said there were no reports of injuries to any other personnel.
No outfit has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which came amid an indefinite economic blockade on two national highways — lifelines of the State — enforced by a powerful Naga organisation since November 1 and a counter-blockade by some Manipuri groups. The United Naga Council (UNC) enforced a blockade on the two highways in protest against the decision of the Congress government in the State to upgrade Sadar Hills and Jiribam to full-fledged districts without consulting the Nagas.
The UNC contends that Sadar Hills is the “ancestral homeland” of the Nagas where “migrant” Kukis are now in a majority.
Asked if the attacks were the fallout of the State government’s decision to create seven districts, including Sadar Hills and Jiribam, Chief Secretary O Nabakisor said, “I can’t say anything. We don’t have any specific inputs. So, we can’t comment.”
Earlier in December, suspected Naga militants had ambushed a team of paramilitary commandos in neighbouring Chandel district that left five personnel injured. Last year, 18 Army personnel were killed and over a dozen others injured when their convoy came under attack from the rebels of the SS Khaplang faction of the NSCN in the district.
At Tengnoupal, CM Okram Ibobi Singh said, “It is of no use to attack Manipur Police and all disputes must be resolved through dialogue.” He announced an ex-gratia of `5 lakh to the nearest kin of the police personnel killed in the rebel ambush.