Gunmen Attack Assam Rifles Convoy in Manipur, 2 Dead, 5 Injured

Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed and five others injured after heavily armed insurgents ambushed their convoy in Bishnupur district of Manipur on Friday evening.

Police identified the deceased as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap. The incident occurred around 5:50 pm when a column of the 33 Assam Rifles was moving from its Patsoi base in Imphal West to its Nambol base in Bishnupur along National Highway-150.

According to an official statement, the ambush took place at Nambol Sabal Leikai, where militants opened fire on the troops. The injured were evacuated to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal and are reported to be stable.

One of the injured soldiers, N Nongthon, told reporters the troops initially held fire to avoid civilian casualties as the attack occurred in a populated area.

No group has claimed responsibility so far. Security forces have launched search operations to trace the attackers, who police said had positioned themselves on both sides of the highway.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla condemned the assault, calling it a “heinous act of violence” and vowed it would be met with “the strongest resolve to safeguard peace and stability in the region.”