Three Manipur policemen killed in ambushes

Three Manipur Police personnel were killed and nine seriously injured in two separate ambushes on Thursday, suspected to have been carried out by militants, authorities said.

No militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Hospital sources said the death toll may go up as the condition of some of the wounded was life threatening.

The attacks came as policemen from Moreh and Thoubal police stations were being deployed in the newly created district of Tengoupal, which Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was scheduled to inaugurate.

Militants ambushed a vehicle bringing personnel from Moreh at Lokchao along the border with Myanmar at 6.30 a.m., killing Head Constable Ayub Khan and L. Maring and injuring some others.

The second ambush took place at Bongyang on a police team proceeding from Thoubal, killing Jiban on the spot.

The injured policemen were rushed to hospitals.

Condemning the killings, Ibobi Singh conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh each as "immediate relief".

He vowed to "give a befitting reply to the perpetrators".

On Monday night, trucks bringing consumer items from Assam to blockade-hit Manipur were ambushed along NH 37 injuring two drivers.

--IANS

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