4 securitymen killed in Manipur ambush

IMPHAL, Feb 22 — Four security personnel including an Army captain on poll duty in Manipur were killed when militants ambushed a security party at Yairipok are ain Thoubal district, official sources said on Thursday. The Assam Rifles personnel who were patrolling the area for smooth movement of polling personnel to interior polling stations in hill districts were attacked on Wednesday evening by ultras using rocket launchers from nearby hilltops. Three Assam Rifles men and an Army captain were killed on the spot. Though Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force, its officers are deployed from the Army. After the ambush, the militants fled to nearby thick hilly jungles, the sources said, adding that no arrest was made so far. Security reinforcements had been rushed to the spot. Reports from Thoubal district said the captain killed in Wednesday’s ambush at Yairipok area was identified as Sameer Bhan of 7th Assam Rifles Post. The security party, which had gone to Maphou dam area following an ambush on a security and polling party, were attacked while returning to their post on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Manipur People’s Army (MPA), armed wing of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), claimed the responsibility of the Yairipok ambush. A caller who identified himself as a spokesman of the MPA said the ambush was launched as a part oftheir armed fight for what they called an ‘independent Manipur.’