Imphal: A jawan was killed and three others were injured when suspected militants ambushed an Assam Rifles party in Ukhrul district of Manipur on Thursday. The ultras exploded an improvised explosive device (IED) at Kashung about 11.15 am, the police said. The deceased was identified as Havildar Rohit. The injured were airlifted to the Leimakhong Army Hospital in Imphal. — PTI
Mistaken for ultra, civilian killed in Army firing in Arunachal
Bijay Sankar Bora
Tribune News Service
Guwahati, June 15
A civilian was killed by troops of Assam Rifles during a counter-insurgency operation at Kangsa Basti in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh in the wee hours today.Though the Army called it a case of mistaken identity, locals staged a protest alleging that an innocent civilian identified as Thingtu Nimu was shot dead without a reason.Kohima-based defence spokesman Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said: “The Army had laid an ambush in Kangsa Basti of Changlang district after receiving intelligence inputs about movement of a group of hardcore terrorists in the area. A man made very suspicious movements and on being challenged he rushed towards the ambush party. This forced the Army to open controlled fire, which resulted in his death. It is a case of mistaken identity.”The Army has been engaged in counter-insurgency operations in insurgents-infested Changlang, Tirap and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Myanmar.The killing of the civilian in Changlang district comes just a couple of days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during an India-Myanmar border area situation review meeting at Aizawl, told the Assam Rifles, which is operating along the India-Myanmar border, to exercise restrain while dealing with people living in the bordering areas.
Army says…
- An ambush was laid in Kangsa Basti of Changlang district after the Army received intelligence inputs about movement of a group of hardcore terrorists in the area
- A man made ‘very suspicious’ movements and on being challenged he rushed towards the ambush party
- This forced the Army to open controlled fire, which resulted in his death. The Army termed it a case of mistaken identity