Raigarh mourns its brave son and his men killed in a militant ambush in Manipur

Four personnel of the country’s oldest paramilitary were also killed in the militant ambush in Manipur

Updated on: Nov 14, 2021, 03:35:14 IST

By Ritesh Mishra, Hindustan Times, Raipur

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A pall of gloom descended on Raigarh town and several local residents rushed to the house of a commanding officer of Assam Rifles who, along with his wife and son, were killed in a militant ambush in Manipur on Saturday.

Col Viplav Tripathi Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles and his wife killed in a terrorist attack at Singhat sub-division, in Churachandpur on Saturday. Five soldiers of Assam Rifles and two of their family members also lost their lives. (ANI)

Four personnel of the country’s oldest paramilitary were also killed in the attack.

“We learnt about his death at around 12:10 pm from a relative who is also in the Indian Army and posted in the same region. Army officials told us that Viplav’s seven-year-old son was airlifted but he did not survive. Everyone in our family is in a state of deep shock,” Rajesh Patnaik, Colonel Viplav’s uncle and a resident of Raigarh, said.

Viplav’s younger brother, Anay, is also in the Army and posted in the same region, he added. “Anay was in Raigarh and was going to Mhow (Indore) for some training programme when we got the news... He rushed to Kolkata on Saturday evening,” Patnaik said.

Patnaik also said that Colonel Viplav Tripathi was inspired by his freedom fighter grandfather, Kishori Mohan Tripathi, who was also a member of the Constituent Assembly.

“Viplav joined the Indian Army with the goal of serving the nation, taking inspiration from his grandfather... His father, a senior journalist, and his mother, a social activist, also encouraged him. He has sacrificed his life while serving for the country. We are proud of him,” he said.

The deceased colonel’s father runs a vernacular newspaper, Dainik Bayaar, in Raigarh.

Officials who knew Colonel Viplav said: “He always had a good joke to crack. He had a joke for every occasion. His humour was outstanding...”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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