Search on for missing women, kids : Police

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 12 : Manipur Police have claimed that five villagers who fled to safer places following a fierce attack by militants at Jakuradhor Karong, Jiribam on November have been successfully rescued but three children and three women are still missing.
Briefing media persons at Manipur Police headquarters this afternoon, IG (Operations) Ik Muivah said that security forces have been carrying out search operations at different places to rescue the missing women and children.
After the heavy exchange of firing on Monday, security forces carried out a search operation and 10 militants clad in combat fatigue were found dead and arms were also discovered, IK Muivah said.
Further search led to the discovery of charred bodies of two villagers among the debris of burnt houses, he said.
In addition, security forces managed to rescue  four men and a woman who fled to safer places following the fierce attack.
At around 2.30 pm on November 11, heavily armed militants attacked Borobekra police station and the CRPF camp opened at Jakuradhor Karong using heavy weaponry including RPGs apart from setting ablaze many houses and shops of the area, said the IG.
The CRPF jawans retaliated and it led to exchange of fire between the two sides which lasted for around 45 minutes.
Although it is only natural for security forces to respond when they come under attack, security forces take utmost care while retaliating any attack so as to avoid collateral damages as far as possible, the IG (Ops) said.          
One CRPF jawan sustained injuries in the attack and he was taken to Silchar for treatment.
To a query, IK Muivah informed that the men killed in the exchange of fire were dressed in combat fatigues and the items recovered from them included one RPG launcher, one pump action gun, three AK assault rifles, four SLRs, two INSAS rifles, a large number of ammunition, bullet proof vests, helmets and magazines. It only testified that all of them were militants, IK Muivah said.
IG (Administration) K Jayanta said that yesterday’s attack was the second time Borobekra police station was attacked directly.
In between there were 31 incidents of minor attacks or firing toward the police station, he said and added that around 100 displaced people have been taking refuge at the police station.
Jayanta said that the militants burnt and reduced 79 houses to ashes.   Security forces have no option other than to retaliate if militants launch such attacks as if there is no rule of law in Manipur, he said.
To another query, the IG (Administration) said that the identities of the 10 slain militants have not been established officially.
The two men who were found charred to death have been identified as Maibam Kesho (75) and Laishram Barel (61), both from Modhupur.
The five persons who have been successfully rescued by police are Oinam Thonglen (45) of Jakuradhor Part II, Pebam Rajkumar (65) of Borobekra, H Kunjo (65) of Lamtai Khunou, Longjam Manibabu (58) of Modhupur and L Mohini (56) of Modhupur, he added.