5 soldiers injured in Manipur ambush, UNLFW claims responsibility

At least five soldiers from a patrol party on the Myanmar border were seriously injured in a militant ambush in Manipur's Chandel district on Saturday morning, officials said.

The United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW), an umbrella grouping of the anti-talk factions of Assam's United Liberation Front of Asom and the National Democratic Front of Boroland, the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation and Coordination Committee of several militant outfits of Manipur, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sources told IANS that the soldiers were patrolling near Sajik Tampak when a remote controlled bomb detonated near them, while the militants opened fire with automatic rifles.

As the soldiers retaliated, the militants are believed to have escaped across the border. Reinforcements have been rushed for launching combing operations in the area.

The wounded soldiers were airlifted to the military hospital at Leimakhong army headquarters near Imphal.

A statement issued by the ULFA's anti-talk faction claimed responsibility. "A group of Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) attacked the 21 Para Regiment of Indian Army between Aisi and Khunmulen near Sajik Tampak in Chandel District on Saturday morning. Five or more Indian soldiers are seriously injured," it said.

--IANS

ah/vgu/bg