North East News Agency

On the last day of 2005, terror visited Manipur once again. Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) T Thangthuam      Paite and his escort commander killed in an ambush at Oinam. Four other escort personnel also sustained injuries.

Outlawed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) claimed the responsibility. PLA, however, clarified that Manipur IGP was not its target and expressed grief for his bereaved family.

In a statement PLA stated that they were waiting for the Indian Army when the IGP’s team arrived from Churachandpur. ‘’The attack should be construed as a warning to all State police forces,’’ PLA warned. However, it said the outfit never attacks local police forces and urged the police to chalk out a plan to avoid such incidents. 

From the eyewitness’ account it is clear that the underground group laid a well thought out trap to carry on its subversive activities. Mr. Thangthuam went to New Lamka to bring his son, who was not keeping well, and daughter-in-law for New Year celebrations. The underground elements were waiting at the spot in a truck. The IGP was in an ambassador car escorted by two escort vehicles was coming towards Imphal.

When the IG along with his escort party reached the ambush spot, the miscreants suddenly opened fire indiscriminately at the IG and his escort party. The escort party also opened fire. The exchange of fire lasted for about five minutes. After killing the IG, the miscreants escaped in the same truck.

The IG was hit by several bullets including one at his forehead. Escort commander, havildar S Khamzan Paite, was also hit by the hail of bullets. Both of them succumbed to their injuries at the spot.

According to the driver of the car, the assailants attacked from the left side of the road and the IG was sitting on the left side of the back seat. The escort commander was sitting on the left side at the front of the vehicle. The driver further said that there were two escort Gypsys and the Ambassador was in the middle. When the team neared Oinam Bazar, a truck which was parked on the western side of the road came towards them and around four to five people fired upon them with sophisticated weapons like AK rifles.

Later the Army recovered the truck from Tingkai Khunou village. It is learnt that after the recovery of the truck, the police was told by the villagers that the vehicle was seen parked at the village with well equipped suspected underground activists numbering around 20 since a day before the incident. The villagers also reportedly disclosed that the vehicle had left the village on the morning of the fateful day and returned to the village after some time. Afterwards the truck was abandoned there and the miscreants hurriedly left the area going uphill and disappeared.

Normal life has been affected in Manipur in wake of the general strike called to protest the killing of IGP T Thangthuam and his escort by proscribed PLA. 

The All Tribal Students’ Association, Kuki Students’ Organisation, Hmar Students’ Association, Paite Students’ Union, Zillai Vaiphei Students’ Organisation, Zomi Students’ Federation and other organisations have called the bandh. All inter-state passenger buses were cancelled in view of the strike. No vehicles were allowed to enter or leave the State. Educational institutes and business establishments remained closed and the roads wore a deserted look. The students’ bodies have also organised a protest meeting at Churachandpur. The students’ bodies have demanded a CBI probe into the incident. 

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