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Gunmen ambush Assam Rifles vehicle in Manipur, 2 jawans killed, 5 injured
The Assam Rifles personnel were travelling in a 407 Tata vehicle when the attack occurred at around 6 PM on Friday.
IMPHAL: Two personnel of the Assam Rifles died and five others were injured when a group of heavily-armed insurgents ambushed them at Nambol Sabal Leikai, Bishnupur district of Manipur along National Highway-150.
Police said that the two deceased were identified as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap.
Officials said the ambush occurred at around 5.50 pm when a column of troops of 33 Assam Rifles was moving from its Patsoi Company Operating Base, Imphal West, to Nambol Company Operating Base, Bishnupur.
In the general area, Nambol Sabal Leikai, the column was ambushed by unidentified terrorists on the highway in the denotified area of Manipur. 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,” an army statement said.
N Nongthon, who was among those injured, told reporters that about 4-5 attackers suddenly opened fire at them. “We did not immediately retaliate as it would have led to injuries to the public, as it was not an isolated area," he said, according to PTI.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security forces have launched extensive search operations to track down the perpetrators, a statement by Assam Rifles said.
A police officer said the insurgents had positioned themselves on both sides of the highway and ambushed the AR personnel when they were passing by.
Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla condemned the attack.
“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.
