Two soldiers of the Assam Rifles were killed in action after unidentified gunmen ambushed their vehicle on the outskirts of Manipur’s Imphal on Friday evening.
The incident took place in the Nambol Sabal Leikai area, around 8 km from Imphal airport, when the Assam Rifles’ 407 Tata truck was travelling from Imphal to Bishnupur. Heavily armed attackers opened fire on the vehicle, leaving two personnel dead and others injured. Visuals from the site showed one officer with severe injuries as security forces rushed to secure the area.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla condemned the attack, expressing deep grief over the loss of lives and extending condolences to the bereaved families. He assured that such acts of violence would be met with firm resolve to restore peace and stability, while also wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
The ambush site lies along the route between Imphal and Churachandpur, a region that has witnessed previous militant attacks. Notably, in November 2021, Colonel Viplav Tripathi of the Assam Rifles, his wife, son, and three Quick Reaction Team jawans were killed in a deadly ambush in Churachandpur.
While the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remains in force across Manipur, Bishnupur district — where Nambol is located — falls outside AFSPA coverage. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, nine banned Meitei terrorist groups operate in the state and have been responsible for repeated attacks on security forces.
Security has been tightened in the region, with reinforcements deployed to trace the attackers.
