One Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed, and three others were injured after armed miscreants ambushed a combined team of the CRPF and state police in Manipur’s Jiribam on Sunday.
Unknown armed men targeted a team of the 20th Battalion CRPF and Manipur Police at around 9:40 am, officials said. The attack happened as the security situation remains grim amid ongoing ethnic violence that started in May 2023.
The incident took place when the combined security team was approaching Monbung village to conduct a search operation related to a firing incident that occurred on Saturday.
The CRPF jawan killed has been identified as 43-year-old Ajay Kumar Jha from Bihar. The three injured personnel include a Sub-Inspector (SI) from Jiribam Police Station, officials added.
The Jiribam region has been witnessing several incidents of violence recently. In June, at least 70 homes and police outposts were set on fire as the clash between the Kuki and Meitei communities continued.
Meanwhile, Manipur Police stated on Sunday that they have seized arms and ammunition from Imphal East and West districts. The ammunition includes one AK-56 rifle, one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), one locally made SLR, several pistols, hand grenades, and 25 rounds of ammunition.
In a separate operation in the Khuyathong and Nagamapal areas of Imphal West district, officials seized one Excalibur rifle, 7.62 mm Ar (GHAATAK), and one MA-3 MK-II rifle with ammunition on Friday.
On July 12, Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi was briefed about the security situation in Manipur and along the Myanmar border during his visit to all the Corps formations under the Eastern Army Command in the Northeast.