Insurgents ambushed an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur district of Manipur Saturday morning, killing a Commanding Officer, his spouse and their five-year-old son and 4 personnel.
No less than six different personnel have been injured within the assault which returned the highlight to the decades-old insurgency within the state.
Assam Rifles mentioned 5 troopers, together with Colonel Viplav Tripathi, Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, “made the supreme sacrifice within the line of responsibility” when their convoy was ambushed close to Thinghat (Singngat) round 11 am.
The injured have been airlifted to the Leimakhong army hospital and at the very least one was admitted to a personal hospital in Imphal with extreme accidents.
File photograph of Colonel Viplav Tripathi, Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, and his spouse
The Individuals’s Liberation Military and the Manipur Naga Individuals’s Entrance collectively claimed accountability for the ambush.
A joint press launch issued by Roben Khuman, Deputy Secretary, Publicity, Revolutionary Individuals’s Entrance (PLA’s political wing), and Thomas Numai, Secretary, Publicity, Manipur Naga Individuals’s Entrance, claimed they have been unaware that the Commanding Officer was being accompanied by his spouse and son. The assertion mentioned safety forces mustn’t carry their households to an space declared disturbed by the federal government.
Official sources mentioned the assault happened near S Sehken village beneath Behiang police station, not removed from Pillar Quantity 43 on the India-Myanmar border.
In New Delhi, safety institution sources mentioned Col Tripathi and his household have been transferring with a Fast Response Group when an IED was set off. Instantly after this, your complete convoy got here beneath assault. Sources mentioned round 100 to 150 rounds have been fired.
Escalation after years of calm
Insurgency in Manipur has reared its head once more after a very long time. The crackdown by safety forces, the demise of leaders of rebel teams, and lack of cadre had seen them mendacity low. The PLA and MNPF’s focused killing of a CO marks a significant escalation in operations, extra so as a result of it has taken place on turf dominated by different teams.
Manipur authorities sources mentioned over 15 insurgents have been probably concerned within the assault. They mentioned there have been three IED explosions adopted by firing. “Our preliminary investigation exhibits this was a well-planned assault,” a Manipur authorities supply mentioned.
Tripathi had served in Mizoram till July this 12 months, after which he moved to Khuga in Churachandpur district. His battalion has been on the forefront of border administration, checking unlawful smuggling on the Indo-Myanmar border, and within the hinterland.
Behiang village is located close to the India-Myanmar border, about 122 km from Imphal. Because of its strategic significance, the state authorities has been contemplating proposals to develop it because the second commerce hall to South-East Asia after Moreh city.
The assault and killings drew large condemnation.
President Ram Nath Kovind mentioned: “The assault on the Assam Rifles convoy that led to martyrdom of our troopers and members of the family in Manipur deserves unreserved condemnation. This cowardly act reaffirms our resolve to root out terror in all its varieties and manifestations. We stand united with the bereaved households.”
Manipur’s Churachandpur district, the place the Assam Rifles personnel have been ambushed on SaturdayStrongly condemning the assault, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned: “I pay homage to these troopers and members of the family who’ve been martyred in the present day. Their sacrifice won’t ever be forgotten. My ideas are with the bereaved households on this hour of unhappiness.”
Strongly condemn the assault on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur. I pay homage to these troopers and members of the family who’ve been martyred in the present day. Their sacrifice won’t ever be forgotten. My ideas are with the bereaved households on this hour of unhappiness.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 13, 2021
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a Twitter submit, mentioned: “The cowardly assault on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur is extraordinarily painful & condemnable. The nation has misplaced 5 courageous troopers together with CO 46 AR and two members of the family. My condolences to the bereaved households. The perpetrators will probably be dropped at justice quickly.”
The cowardly assault on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur is extraordinarily painful & condemnable. The nation has misplaced 5 courageous troopers together with CO 46 AR and two members of the family.
My condolences to the bereaved households. The perpetrators will probably be dropped at justice quickly.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 13, 2021
Union House Minister Amit Shah mentioned he was “anguished” over the “cowardly assault” on the convoy. “I specific my deepest condolences to the bereaved households. Your complete nation stands firmly with our valiant safety forces. The sacrifices of our courageous troopers is not going to go in useless,” he mentioned.
Talking to The Sunday Categorical, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh mentioned: “We may have extra details about the ambush as soon as arrests are made. I used to be actually shocked to listen to of the way by which the PLA has carried out such a violent assault, significantly condemnable that not solely have been jawans killed within the assault however the Commanding Officer’s spouse and son as nicely. The folks of Manipur state condemn this assault.”
“As House Minister accountable for the state, I’ve instructed Manipur police to apprehend the perpetrators as quickly as doable. Combing operations are occurring. I cannot spare the militants. I’ve visited the hospital the place one of many injured is admitted. Medical doctors have assured full restoration. It’s often the Central authorities which offers compensation in such instances, however seeing that the jawans have come to serve their nation so removed from house, in Manipur, I’ve determined to award a compensation of Rs 2 lakh every to the deceased and the Manipur authorities will care for the medical expenditure of these injured,” he mentioned.
Strongly condemn the cowardly assault on a convoy of 46 AR which has reportedly killed few personnel together with the CO & his household at CCpur in the present day. The State forces & Para army are already on their job to trace down the militants. The perpetrators will probably be dropped at justice.
— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) November 13, 2021
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, providing tribute and condolences, slammed the federal government for its “incapacity” to “shield the nation”.
The oldest and a strong rebel group from Manipur, the PLA operates out of Myanmar. Even the ambush was staged near the Myanmar border.
It appeared to have taken the federal government in addition to different rebel teams, lots of whom are in talks with the federal government, abruptly. Churachandpur district has been largely peaceable ever since an operation was carried out by the Military in 2003-2004, driving valley-based teams into Myanmar.
Assaults on safety forces, together with the ambush carried out by NSCN (Ok) and ULFA which led to the demise of 18 troopers in 2015, additionally happened close to the Indo-Myanmar border in Chandel district.
Better of Categorical Premium
Premium
Premium
Premium
PremiumThe PLA had been quiet the previous 5-6 years. In actual fact, the realm by which the ambush happened is dominated by the Zomi Revolutionary Military. The ZRA and 19 different Kuki-Zomi teams are beneath the Suspension of Operations settlement and have been in talks with the federal government.
