Assam Rifles Soldiers Killed in Militant Ambush Near Imphal
Two Assam Rifles soldiers lost their lives after being ambushed by unidentified gunmen on the outskirts of Imphal, Manipur, on Friday evening.
The attack occurred in the Nambol Sabal Leikai area, approximately 8 km from Imphal airport, targeting a 407 Tata truck of the Assam Rifles that was traveling from Imphal to Bishnupur. The vehicle was fired upon by heavily armed attackers, resulting in the deaths of two personnel and injuries to others. Images from the scene showed a severely injured officer as security forces moved quickly to secure the location.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla strongly condemned the attack, expressing profound sorrow over the loss of lives and extending condolences to the families of the deceased. He assured that such violent acts would be met with strong measures to restore peace and stability, also wishing a swift recovery for the injured.
The ambush site is along the route connecting Imphal and Churachandpur, an area previously targeted by militants. Notably, in November 2021, Colonel Viplav Tripathi of the Assam Rifles, along with his wife, son, and three Quick Reaction Team jawans, were killed in a similar ambush in Churachandpur.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is enforced throughout Manipur; however, the district of Bishnupur, which includes Nambol, is exempt from its provisions. The Ministry of Home Affairs states that nine banned Meitei terrorist groups operate within the state, frequently targeting security forces.
Following the incident, security measures have been heightened in the region, with additional forces deployed to track down the attackers.
