Lagatar24 Desk
Guwahati, Nov.13: A group of unknown terrorists attacked a convoy of an Assam Rifles unit’s commanding officer in the Singhat sub-division of Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Saturday morning. The CO and his family were killed in the militant attack. Four soldiers also lost their lives in the ambush.
The terror incident, one of the deadliest in recent times in the region, occurred about 10 a.m. Colonel Viplav Tripathy, the Commanding Officer of the 46 Assam Rifles, had gone to a forward camp on Saturday and was returning when his convoy was attacked, according to sources.
The attack is thought to have been carried out by the People’s Liberation Army of Manipur. Though no group has claimed responsibility yet.
Intermittent shooting is taking place, according to police sources. This is the first time in the district that civilians have been killed in an ambush. The location is a very rural area more than 100 kilometres north of Imphal, the state capital.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has condemned the attack. He said, “Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on a convoy of 46 AR which has reportedly killed few personnel including the CO & his family at CCpur today. The State forces & Para military are already on their job to track down the militants. The perpetrators will be brought to justice.”
Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on a convoy of 46 AR which has reportedly killed few personnel including the CO & his family at CCpur today. The State forces & Para military are already on their job to track down the militants. The perpetrators will be brought to justice.
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) November 13, 2021
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also condemned the attack, he said, “The cowardly attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur is extremely painful & condemnable. The nation has lost 5 brave soldiers including CO 46 AR and two family members. My condolences to the bereaved families. The perpetrators will be brought to justice soon.”
The cowardly attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur is extremely painful & condemnable. The nation has lost 5 brave soldiers including CO 46 AR and two family members.
My condolences to the bereaved families. The perpetrators will be brought to justice soon.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 13, 2021
Hundreds of armed organisations fight for more autonomy or secession in Manipur, as in many other north-eastern states. The Army has been stationed in the area bordering China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan for decades.
Twenty soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack in Manipur in 2015, prompting the Army to perform a surgical strike on their camp.
