Indian Army yet to recover body of Major killed in encounter in Manipur

KOLKATA: After an Army Major was killed in an encounter in Manipur yesterday, security forces have called off the combing operation in Tamenglong district and are trying to bring back the officer's body from the remote area.

Army officials said Nungba area in Tamenglong district is densely forested and they have not been able to bring the body of Major Amit Deswal of 21 Para SF who was killed in a gunbattle yesterday.

"We are trying to secure the area first and build an approach route so that our choppers can go there safely to recover the body. Due to dense vegetation it is not possible to go there on foot," an official said.

Deswal, a resident of Surehti in Haryana's Jhajjar district, is survived by wife and a three-and-a-half years old son.

One militant was also killed in the encounter.

For the time being, the combing operation which was going on for the last few days has been called off by the Army.