IMPHAL, Dec 15: At least three police personnel including a Sub Inspector have been injured when militants fired several rounds of bullets and lathode bombs upon security personnel at Noney. Significantly Noney is among the seven newly created districts and Chief Minister O Ibobi is scheduled to inaugurate the district tomorrow. Following the shoot out, security has been beefed up and speaking to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that the Intelligence Department has received inputs that about 200 armed insurgents have been alerted to attack the Chief Minister and his team when he goes there to inaugurate Noney district tomorrow.
The Chief Minister however will proceed as planned and top police officials including the DGP have been instructed to supervise the security arrangements at the ground level. It is suspected that the attack was a pre-emptive strike against formal inauguration of Noney district which is scheduled tomorrow. Sources informed that the attack took place at around 6.40 pm at the venue where the inaugural function is scheduled to be held tomorrow. Militants armed with sophisticated weapons fired several rounds of bullets and lathode bombs at Longmai common ground where a commando team and SSB troops have been deployed. The security forces were warming themselves by the side of a fire. Sub Inspector Vika and two Constables of Manipur Police Commando suffered bullet injuries in the attack and they were rushed to Imphal for medical treatment after first aid at Noney Assam Rifles post. Soon after the attack was launched, the commandos retaliated resulting in heavy exchange of fire between the two sides. The gun fight lasted for more than 30 minutes after which the militants fled toward a thick jungle area. Sources also informed that the security personnel chased the militants for some distance. The firing toward Police personnel using sophisticated weapons continue till late night.
Villagers who were at Longmai Common ground preparing for the inaugural function ran inside the BRTF camp of Noney on hearing the gun shots. Some of the villagers left the area and went to safer places after the attack. Soon after the incident, additional forces of State Police led by senior police officers have rushed to Noney for reinforcement.
Source: The Sangai Express
