A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed on Monday night while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds in Manipur’s Serou in separate firing incidents between security forces and a group of insurgents on the intervening night of June 5-6, Army officials said.
The deceased BSF jawan was identified as Ranjit Yadav (36), a resident of Sugiapara Kankinara of West Bengal’s Pargana district.
“One BSF jawan sustained fatal injuries while two Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds in general area Serou,” the Spear Corps of the Indian Army said in a statement.
The officials added that the injured Assam Rifles personnel have been air evacuated to Mantripukhri.
According to reports, the BSF personnel was reportedly shot by a sniper rifle when he was outside his bunker around 4 a.m.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh led others in paying floral tributes to the deceased jawan before the body was sent to his native village.
“My humble tributes to Ct/GD Ranjit Yadav, ex-163 Bn, BSF who laid down his life during an exchange of gunfire at Serou, Kakching District on 6th June 2023. May his soul rest in peace,” chief minister N Biren Singh wrote in his Facebook post.
In another incident, two Assam Rifles troopers were injured after the militants laid an ambush on a combined force of state police commandos, BSF and Assam Rifles in the morning.
The combined force retaliated and engaged in a fierce gunfight for several hours with the militants
“Extensive area domination operations by Assam Rifles, BSF and Police undertaken in areas of Sugnu/Serou in Manipur. Intermittent firing between Security Forces and group of insurgents took place throughout night of June 5-6, Security Forces effectively retaliated to the fire,” officials stated.
Following violent ethnic clashes in Manipur, the Indian Army along with Assam Rifles, CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) and police started extensive area domination operations in the hills and valley area across the state.
The operations, conducted under the surveillance cover of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Quadcopters, have so far resulted in the recovery of 40 weapons, mortars, ammunition and other warlike stores.
On the other hand, in the escalating attacks and counter attacks, at least three villagers sustained bullet injuries and were admitted at different hospitals in Imphal, reports said.
Another report said that security forces engaged in a gunfight with the suspected militants at Kanto Sabal and Moidangpok villages in Imphal West district bordering Kangpokpi district late Sunday night. There were no reports of any casualties in the gunfight.
Meanwhile, according to reports, a seven-year-old boy, his mother and another woman, a relative, were burnt alive, when an ambulance carrying them was stopped by a mob and set afire on Sunday evening. They were on the way to a hospital for treatment escorted by police.
The mob set fire to the ambulance, trapping the victims inside while the police personnel managed to escape.
