Indian troops
are said to have entered Myanmarese territory for the second time in less than
a year in pursuit of militants responsible for the May 22 deadly ambush on an
Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur , officials familiar with the matter said.
Initial reports suggested that at least eight militants were killed in the
operation late Friday, they said.
"The AR
(Assam Rifles) has informed us that besides killing eight, they have picked up
18 militants who were later handed over to the Myanmar authorities," said
an official from the security establishment.
Security
agencies are in process of trying to confirm the extent of damage. There has
been no acknowledgement from the Myanmar authorities so far on the matter, the
official said.
"We are
still collecting the details and cannot confirm the number of deaths. These
camps where the action took place are located inside Myanmar beyond the free
zone of 16 kilometre," the official added.
Six soldiers of
the Assam Rifles were killed in the May 22 ambush, blamed on northeast
insurgent groups in Manipur. During high-level consultations in New Delhi to
take stock of the matter, Assam Rifles was instructed to initiate an action
similar to the one in June last year, people in the know said.
Last year,
special forces of the army carried out a strike inside Myanmar, killing nearly
60 insurgents of the groups believed to be responsible for an ambush in which
17 army men had died.
According to
Assam Rifles report to the centre, the militants who were gunned down in the
latest attack belonged to the CorCom (Core Committee), a joint platform of
militants groups operating in the valley areas of Manipur. The Cor-Com had
claimed responsibility for May 22 ambush and even released photographs of its
hit squad.
Officials
familiar with the matter said there was no clarity so far on the number of
insurgents killed and there could also be members of the NSCN(K).
Courtesy: Economic Times
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