Three killed in Sajik shoot-out, arms seized

IMPHAL, Nov17: After a brief period of relative peace, Sajik Tampak saw a gun fight between security forces and UG cadres this morning. In the encounter which involved AR troops, three suspected UG cadres have been slain. Moreover, arms and ammunition have been recovered.

A few years back, Sajik Tampak was a stronghold of different UG groups before they were flushed out by security forces after a sustained military offensive. At one time, one senior security officer even conceded that Sajik Tampak was a liberated zone for the insurgents.

Today’s encounter took place by the banks of a rivulet, locally known as Kanalok, 1.5 km ahead of Aigejang village near Sajik Tampak at about 3.30 am.

According to a press release issued by the PRO of Hqs IG AR (South), troops of 8 AR of 26 Sector, acting on specific information, laid multiple ambushes in Kanalok area. In the meantime, three suspected UG cadres approached the area.

When the AR troops challenged them to halt, they opened fire towards the troops and attempted to escape away. But the troops retaliated immediately and the three UG cadres were killed in the ensuing gun-fight, said the PRO.

Two AK 56 rifles, four magazines, one M-22 rifle, 206 live rounds and 40 empty cases were recovered from the slain UG suspects.

The corpses and the recovered arms and ammunition have been handed over to Kakching police station, added the AR release.

Interestingly, today’s encounter between security forces and UG cadres was the first after security forces busted all UG camps located in and around Sajik Tampak a few years back.