Manipur Ambush: 2 Militant Groups Claim Responsibility Of Attack That Killed Assam Rifles CO, His Family & 4 Jawans

In a joint statement, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) claimed that they have carried out the attack on Assam Rifles.

Colonel Viplav Tripathi, the Commanding Officer of Khuga Battalion of the Assam Rifles, his wife, and six-yr-old son were killed in the attack on Saturday (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: After the killing of an Assam Rifles Colonel, his family members, and four jawans in a massive ambush in Manipur shook the nation on Saturday, two proscribed militant organisations claimed responsibility for the attack, reported PTI.

In a joint statement, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) claimed that they have carried out the attack on the paramilitary force at Sehkan village in Churachandpur district. The ambush took place at Sehkan village in Churachandpur district of the North-eastern state.

These two organisations along with ULFA-Independent had in July last year killed three Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur's Chandel district.

Colonel Viplav Tripathi, the Commanding Officer of Khuga Battalion of the Assam Rifles, his wife, and son, besides four personnel of the country's oldest paramilitary were killed on Saturday in a welter of IED blasts and burst of gunfire in Manipur's Churachandpur district, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.

The attack happened at around 10 am, with the militants first causing an improvised explosive device (IED) blast on the single-lane street, and later opening fire on the convoy. The incident took place when Tripathi and the personnel were coming back from his forward company base to the battalion headquarters, reported PTI.

The news of the attack sent shockwaves within the country and President Kovind, PM Modi, HM Shah along with other leaders condemned the ghastly attack.

Condemning the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the sacrifices of the soldiers and their families will never be forgotten.

"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," the PM wrote on Twitter.

"The cowardly attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur is extremely painful & 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," the defence minister tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed anguish over the ambush.

"I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The entire nation stands firmly with our valiant security forces. The sacrifices of our brave soldiers will not go in vain," Shah tweeted.

Meanwhile, government sources told news agency ANI that security has been beefed up on Mynamar border and both the army and intelligence teams are  keeping a close watch on the region.

The incident is the first major attack on security forces since June 4, 2018 when an Army convoy was similarly targeted in Chandel district resulting in the death of 18 personnel and injury to others. The personnel of the Road Opening Patrol (ROP) of the 6 Dogra Regiment of the Army were felled.

The state that was for decades in the throes of insurgency was largely calm ever since.

"Five soldiers including Col Viplav Tripathi Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The family of Commanding Officer i.e. wife and child also lost their lives in the incident. DG and all ranks of Assam Rifles offer condolences to the brave soldiers and families of the deceased," the force said in a press statement.

Earlier, it had said the commanding officer, his family, and three Quick Reaction Team personnel died in the attack.

Force eulogised Colonel Viplav Tripathi

Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force in the country raised in 1835 under British rule. It is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) but operational control of the Indian Army.

The force eulogised the slain officer who had previously served in Mizoram until his transfer to Manipur in July 2021.

"During his tenure at Mizoram, under his able and energetic leadership, the Battalion has been at the forefront in Border management thwarting illegal smuggling in the IMB and hinterland. Battalion has also recovered several weapons & War like stores that could have landed in the hands of Anti National elements thus avoiding major casualties.

"Col Viplav though his remarkable endeavors has bonded closely with the locals of Mizoram.

The Anti Drug campaign conducted by his battalion in January 2021 received several laurels and praise & the awareness was rightfully created by him in the entire state including the remote villages to ensure the youth are guided in the right direction," the statement said, adding his "goodwill for the society will last an eternity".

The Assam Rifles statement said it suspected that the insurgent group responsible for this massacre "must be from PREPAK cadre as the PREPAK remembrance day is celebrated on 12/13 November 2021".

Chief Ministers of several states also condemned the attack on the paramilitary force.

(With PTI inputs)