IMPHAL, Nov 17 ? In the ongoing anti-militant operations conducted by Army especially in Churachandpur sector of Manipur, the underground outfits have been forced to take on in jungles and interiors. This has come as great relief to the local population who had been erstwhile subjected to atrocities of militants. With the presence of Army now in South and West of Churachandpur, the district administration has been able to commence functioning consequent to secure environment now prevailing.
Refuting claims of the banned underground organisation UNLF that it has inflicted heavy casualties on Indian security personnel in two different encounters on November 13, the Army authorities clarified that none of their personnel have been killed and that only two sustained minor injuries.
In a statement issued today, the Army stated that its troops had engaged the special fighting unit of MPA in Umtal area, Singhat subdivision in two separate encounters on November 13, killing at least three underground activists and injuring many other. In the ensuing operations, so far 24 militants have been killed and another 53 apprehended and 40 weapons recovered including large quantities of explosives, IEDs and other warlike stores.
The Army authorities also stated that contrary to statements from the UNLF, the local people were not in support of the underground organisation. In fact, the villagers of Umtal had been forcibly evicted form their homes which were occupied under intimation from the MPA cadres. The villagers has now been rid of the presence of members of the underground organisation, the Army statement claimed.