AR crossfire leaves two dead

IMPHAL, April 7: Two personnel of the Assam Riffles were shot dead and another seriously injured in an incident of cross firing between the personnel of 24 Assam Riffles located at Moreh gate and 9 Assam Riffles at Khudengthabi post at Lokchao last night at around 9 pm under Moreh Police station in Chandel district.

The two personnel of the 24 Assam Riffle who died on the spot have been identified as Havaldar Riflemen number 5000454 Narengbam Suresh (30), son of Priyokumar of Wangjing Sarokhaibam Leikai and Warren Officer Riflemen number 24011804 Ramkishan Singh (50), son of (L) Hari of Uttaranchal. The other personal of the 9 Assam Riffles who was injured in the cross fire, has been admitted at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and is identified as K Pankaj Kumar (35).

According to a reliable source, the incident of cross firing happened when a team of 9 Assam Riffles posted at the Moreh station in the Lokchao area after they got specific information of the presence of some well armed Underground cadres in the area and waited to attack the group.

On the other hand, personnel of the 24 Assam Riffles at Khudengthabi post also rushed to Lokchao area to carry out an attack on the suspected underground cadres after getting the same information.  When the approaching team of 24 Assam Riffles reached the Lokchao area, they came under the attack of the personnel of 9 Assam Riffles who were already at the spot probably due to a case of mistaken identity because of the dark.

The firing reportedly lasted for half an hour.

The post mortem of both the Assam Riffles personnel have been conducted at Jawaharlal Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) today noon. Meanwhile, Moreh police have taken up a case regarding the incident.