Itanagar : An Assam Rifles Company Operating Base (COB) at Ranglum village in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district came under fire from armed insurgents on Monday morning, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire, officials said.

According to defence sources, the COB was targeted from two different directions at around 8.45 am, even as the country was marking its 77th Republic Day. Assam Rifles personnel responded swiftly, effectively retaliating against the attackers. A counter-insurgency operation is currently underway in the area.

“No casualties have been reported from either side so far,” an official said, adding that additional columns deployed in nearby locations have been alerted and reinforcements rushed to the area. Operations to cordon off the region and neutralise the insurgents have also been launched as part of heightened security measures.

The identity of the militant group involved in the attack is yet to be confirmed, with Assam Rifles officials stating that detailed information is awaited.

Changlang Superintendent of Police Kirli Padu said police teams have been dispatched to the border areas to collect inputs. “We are yet to receive detailed information from the Assam Rifles,” the SP said.

Ranglum is a remote border village located close to the India-Myanmar international boundary, near border pillar number 168. Arunachal Pradesh shares a 520-km unfenced border with Myanmar, making the region vulnerable to cross-border militant movement.

Security agencies recalled that a few months ago, militants belonging to the NSCN-K (YA) faction had launched a standoff attack on the Hedman Camp in Changlang district, which was foiled due to a swift and coordinated response by alert troops. Officials said such prompt action has repeatedly thwarted insurgent attempts and helped maintain security force dominance in the sensitive border region.

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