IMPHAL, March 17 ? Eleven members of the banned National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) were killed in an encounter with India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel at Pallel area in Manipur?s Thoubal?s district, last evening. Security personnel also received a large number of arms and ammunition from the site. Police sources said, the encounter took place around 7.45 pm yesterday when the heavily-armed ultras coming in a 407 mini Tata truck (MN01-3365) coming from Chandel side towards Thoubal suddenly started firing from the vehicle when the IRB personnel, on routine patrolling and checking duty, stopped the vehicle. The IRB personnel immediately retaliated which resulted in an encounter that lasted for about 25 to 30 minutes leaving 11 militants dead on the spot.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the commandant of 2 IRB Laishram Lokundra said ?the incident was unprecedented,? adding ? no one was injured on our side during the encounter.? He said ?we?ve recovered three SLRs, two .303 rifles, four AK-47 rifles, one sten carbine, one US Carbine, four sniper rifles, two hand grenades, one wireless set and several rounds of SLR, AK, G-3 etc. The driver of the 407 mini Tata truck identified as HL Minthang Anal (48) son of late HL Momo Anal of Panchai village, Chandel district was arrested and a case has been registered in Kakching police station in connection with the incident.
Many higher ups of state police as well as other para-miliary forces lauded the activity of 2 IRB. Some of the top BSF officials stationed here termed it as an excellent job. They said that such kind of a major incident in which no security personnel was injured might be the first one in the country. On the other hand, the officers and men who have done the job have been awarded and their case for gallantry or other awards is being taken up, PRO of State Police Vandana Karki said in a release. All the dead bodies of militants have been kept in RIMS morgue, Imphal for identification.