The deceased soldiers have been identified as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung (58), a junior commissioned officer, and Rifleman Keshap (29).
Two Assam Rifles personnel lost their lives, and five others were injured after heavily armed insurgents ambushed their convoy in Bishnupur district, Manipur, on Friday evening.
Police said the ambush took place at Nambol Sabal Leikai along National Highway-150 around 5:50 pm. Troops from the 33 Assam Rifles were moving from their Patsoi Company Operating Base in Imphal West to the Nambol Company Operating Base in Bishnupur when insurgents opened fire.
The deceased soldiers have been identified as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung (58), a junior commissioned officer, and Rifleman Keshap (29).
According to an official statement, “In the ensuing action, two personnel of Assam Rifles were martyred and five were injured, who have since been evacuated to RIMS (Regional Institute of Medical Sciences) and are currently stable.”
N Nongthon, one of the injured soldiers, said that about 4-5 attackers opened fire suddenly.“We did not immediately retaliate as it would have led to injuries to the public, as it was not an isolated area,” he told reporters, according to PTI.
Police sources said the attackers had strategically positioned themselves on both sides of the highway. They opened fire when the convoy was passing through the area.
So far, no insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Assam Rifles confirmed that search operations have been launched to track down those behind the ambush. Security forces are conducting combing operations in nearby areas.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla strongly condemned the incident. “The Governor of Manipur has strongly condemned the attack on security forces this evening, in which two brave jawans of the Assam Rifles made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty…. The Governor reaffirmed that such heinous acts of violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances and warned that they will be met with the strongest resolve to safeguard peace and stability in the region,” the Manipur Raj Bhavan said in a statement on X.
The attack has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in Manipur. Over the past year, the state has witnessed a series of violent clashes, and this ambush adds to the growing concerns about insurgency in the region.
Authorities have assured that the perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice.
