JCO, 5 Assam Rifles jawans killed by rifleman

Imphal, Jan 22 (PTI) Six Assam Rifles men, including a
junior commissioned officer, were gunned down by a rifleman of
the force in India's northeastern state of Manipur's Ukhrul
district in one of the worst fratricidal killings involving
security personnel.

A massive manhunt has been launched for rifleman
Shiny Medea, who after allegedly killing five of his
colleagues last evening, escaped with his service weapon, an
Assam Rifles officer here said Thursday.

The incident happened in the remote Awang Kasom
Khullen area of the district around 5 pm yesterday when
Medeo of the 17th Assam Rifles, posted under Chingai police
station, opened fire at his colleagues following a quarrel he
had with the JCO, he alleged.

The manhunt has been launched by police and security
forces stationed in the district to nab the accused, who
hails from Nagaland, the officer said.

The victims have been identified as JCO Baldev Singh,
Havildar Samshu Jama and riflemen Deewan Singh, W Islam,
Nitish Kumar and Vikas Kumar.

Arrangements are being made to shift their bodies from
Chingai police station to the district headquarters of Ukhrul.

"This is a case of fratricidal killing. The jawan,
posted at Awang Kasom Khullen, which is a permanent vehicle
checkpost, had some discussion with the JCO," said Lt Col
Nirupam Bhargava, a defence spokesman posted in neighbouring
Nagaland.

"Apparently after the discussion, he fired at the JCO
killing him on the spot. And in a bid to defend himself, he
fired indiscriminately on others killing five more jawans," he
said.

Bhargava said, "After opening fire, Medeo fled with
his rifle. Now an operation is on to apprehend the jawan. The
exact reason behind the killings will be known only after the
accused is apprehended".

The jawan had been with the paramilitary Assam Rifles,
which is involved in counter-insurgency operations in the
north east, for the last three-and-a-half years, he said,
claiming that there had earlier been no report of any
"indiscipline" against the jawan.

Replying to a questions on fratricidal killings, the
spokesman said, "Certainly leave may not be an issue because
the jawan had availed his entire leave in 2008...". PTI BHA
SAK
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