Three members of a family die in crossfire in Manipur

Imphal, April 23: Three of a family were killed and another member of the same family, a one and half year old kid injured in a crossfire between BS and militants near Zou Veng, a Kuki village around half a kilometer south of Sugunu police station last night. Reports said eh BSF ambushed the militants and the subsequent encounter began from 11.30 pm and lasted till 1.45 in the morning. A BSF statement said a group of PLA cadres numbering around 60 were fired upon by 2nd Bn BSF personnel in between Sugunu and Sangaikot at around 12.30 pm last night. During the encounter, one PLA cadre identified as Thangjam Ibochou alias Sanatomba (24) of Lamboikhongnangkhong was apprehended. One Kenwood wireless set was seized from him. The militants used heavy weapons like UMG and AK 47 rifles, the statement said adding two trucks used by the militants along with the drivers and cleaners have been captured. The BSF further claimed two more militants died and two other severely injured in the encounter. The front glass of one BSF vehicle was shattered but no jawan was injured, it said and added three civilians died and a kid injured in the militant firing. Manglianthang (34) ? the father, and his two daughters Mangdeinou (10) and Niangjamnuan (6) of the locality died in the crossfire. The injured kid is Sian-it-Thang, the last child of the family. The mother and three other children escaped unhurt. Nobody in the village has clear knowledge of the incident as it occurred during the night. The victims were struck by bullets while they were asleep in the beds as several bullets hit their houses located by a stream on the foothills. The daughters died in their bed while the father died on his way to RIMS. After the encounter, the family had to wait till day break to evacuate the injured persons, the source said. It further said the villagers came out of their homes at the break of the day and took the injured to the hospital of BSF. They were later evacuated to RIMS after they have been given first aid at the BSF Hospital. The father was died on the way at Mayang Imphal. The injured child has been admitted to the RIMS. The grieving mother said she could not even see her dead children at her homes as she had rushed to bring the injured to hospital.