The ambush incident site is approximately 50 km from 46 AR Bn HQ at Khuga Dam in Churachandpur District HQ, and approximately 7 km from Indo Myanmar international border
KRC TIMES Manipur Bureau
In a tragic incident, a convoy of 46 Assam Rifles, comprising Comanding Officer (CO) Col Viplav Tripathi was ambushed at 10:30 AM today near S. Sehken village, Singngat Sub-Division, under Behiang PS of Churachandpur district of Manipur. Seven persons including the Commandant, his wife Anuja Tripathi, and minor son aged six Abeer Tripathi, a student of Class-I at St. Paul’s Institute, Lamka (Churachandpur, Manipur), and 4 other jawans were killed in the ambush.
Initially, IED was blasted followed by heavy firing on the convoy.
The ambushed incident site is approximately 50 km from 46 AR Bn HQ at Khuga Dam in Churachandpur District HQ, and approximately 7 km from Indo-Myanmar international border.
4 Assam Rifles jawans on QRT duty are also killed.
This is the first time that civilian casualties have occurred in an ambush in the area. The Commanding Officer Viplav Tripathy had visited his Behiang Coy post on November 12 and was returning back.
Security forces are indicating the handiwork of PLA behind the incident. This is a targeted ambush, the initial reports suggest as in Manipur there is no such SoP as in the Maoist area where the security forces take separate routes for their movement. So the insurgents were in knowledge of the movement and it has targeted the security group. What is unacceptable that PLA or any other group had not targeted civilians earlier but this incident is bound to initiate new theories for the stakeholders including the government, security establishments and civil society as a whole.
The Zomi Chiefs Association (ZCA) strongly condemns the brutal attack. The ZCA statement highlighted “ Churachandpur District witnessed relative peace, security and development after a long spell of night-marish militancy due to the relentless efforts of the Government and its security forces. This cold-blooded incident jeopardized and put at peril, the life and security of innocent peace loving Zomi villagers residing in the area. It shocked the general public who eagerly awaits a final solution of the political negotiations between the Government and SoO groups. ZCA appeals all Zomi Chiefs and villagers along the Indo-Myanmar border to cooperate with the security forces in their hunt for perpetrators of these heinous acts.”
The Chief Minister has condemned the inciden and in a tweet stated that “Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on a convoy of 46 AR which has reportedly killed few personnel including the CO & his family at CCpur today. The State forces & Para military are already on their job to track down the militants. The perpetrators will be brought to justice.”
Rajnath Singh, Union Defence Minister has strongly condemned the incident
Update: PLA and MNPF claims responsibility for the attack
The ultras stated that they were not aware of any family member being present in the convoy
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has condemned the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur. He paid homage to those soldiers and family members who have been martyred today.
The Prime Minister tweeted :
“Strongly condemn the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur. I pay homage to those soldiers and family members who have been martyred today. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of sadness.”
