The Hindu : Manipur CM escapes bid on life

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 28, 2003

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Manipur CM escapes bid on life

Ibobi Singh

Imphal July 27. The Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, today escaped a bid on his life but two of his security men were killed and five injured when heavily-armed militants opened fire on his convoy at Wangjing area, 35 km from here, prompting the authorities to sound a red alert.

Brigadier E.J. Kochekan, Commander of 9 Sector Assam Rifles, posted at Thoubal, told PTI that the attack was carried out by the separatist People's Liberation Army (PLA) and led by "Lt." Gojen Singh.

The Chief Minister's convoy was attacked at around 10.55 a.m. shortly after he left Wangjing area after inspecting the construction of a dam at Sangaiyumpham in Thoubal district.

Police commandos and India Reserve Battalion personnel, who were part of the convoy, chased the militants and engaged them in a gunbattle at nearby Salungpham village.

A police commando and an IRB battalion personnel were killed and four policemen and a civilian wounded in the exchange of fire lasting over an hour. Mr. Ibobi Singh, who was unhurt, was escorted back to his official residence here.

Brig. Kochekan said there had been intelligence reports that some PLA militants were roaming in the area before today's attack, which he termed an incident of "provocative firing".

Authorities asked all police and security posts to intensify security measures in their respective jurisdiction and detect any movement of armed militants. Search operations were launched in Wangjing area after the attack but no arrest had been made so far, sources said.

PLA is the armed wing of the banned Revolutionary People's Party, which is a constituent of the Manipur People's Liberation Front, which also has the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and the United National Liberation Front as its members.

PTI

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