6 Assam Rifles personnel killed in Manipur ambush

Imphal/ New Delhi, May 22

Six troopers were killed when an Assam Rifles convoy was on Sunday ambushed in Manipur’s Chandel district by insurgents of the Corcom—the apex body of six proscribed underground organisations.

The attackers also took away four AK-47 assault rifles, an INSAS rifle, a light machine gun and ammunition before fleeing the spot.

While intelligence sources said six personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were killed, the Assam Rifles and the police, while confirming the incident, declined to disclose the exact casualty figures.

The convoy of 29 Assam Rifles was approaching Holenjang village from the main camp at Joupi in Chandel district bordering Myanmar around 1 pm, when the insurgents detonated remote-controlled bombs and opened fire from different sides.

The exchange of fire lasted about one hour.

Reinforcements were rushed to the spot and operations launched to apprehend the perpetrators, who are believed to have escaped to no man’s land along the India-Myanmar border.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed the security forces to take the “strongest possible action” against militants involved in the killing of six Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur.

After the incident, Rajnath reviewed the situation with Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other top officials in the security establishment.

He also spoke to the Assam Rifles Director-General, who apprised him of the situation and the action taken so far.

“Extremely pained to learn of the killing of Assam Rifles’ JCO and jawans in Manipur. My condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers,” Rajnath wrote on Twitter.

“Spoke to DG Assam Rifles who apprised me of the situation in Manipur. MHA is closely monitoring and reviewing the situation in the state,” he added.

Last year, 18 Army personnel were killed in the same district in an ambush by NSCN(K) militants. — Agencies