Imphal: 5 soldiers including the commanding officer of 46 Khuga Batallion of Assam Rifles, Colonel Viplav Tripathi, were killed in an ambush when their convoy was attacked at Sekhan village of Singhat subdivision in Churachandpur district of Manipur today morning. Colonel Tripathi’s wife Anuja and six-year-old son Abeer were also killed in the attack with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
The convoy included a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of Assam Rifles and four jawans who lost their lives were QRT personnel. They were returning from the border post in Behiang. Many more casualties are feared. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh visited an injured jawan admitted at Shija Hospital.
Colonel Tripathi had moved over to Manipur from Mizoram just about four months ago. The Assam Rifles in a statement issued to media said that the during his tenure in Mizoram, “under his able and energetic leadership, the Batallion has been at the forefront of in Border management thwarting illegal smugling in the IMB [India-Myanmar border] and hinterland”.
The Dirctor General of Assam Rifles, Lieutenant General PC Nair, in a tweet, conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of “our Brave Soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Manipur”.
While no insurgent group has thus far taken responsibility of the attack, the Assam Rifles in a statement reportedly suggested the possibility of the involvement of the People’s revolutionary party of Kanglepak (PREPAK) insurgent group in the attack as the PREPAK observes its remembrance day on November 12 and 13.
President Ram Nath Kovind said the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy that led to martyrdom of the soldiers and family members in Manipur deserves unreserved condemnation. “This cowardly act reaffirms our resolve to root out terror in all its forms and manifestations. We stand united with the bereaved families,” he tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur and paid homage to the soldiers and family members who were 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.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the perpetrators will be brought to justice soon. He stated, “the cowardly attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur is extremely painful and condemnable. The nation has lost 5 brave soldiers including CO 46 AR and two family members. My condolences to the bereaved families. The perpetrators will be brought to justice soon.”
– global bihari bureau
