Manipur: Assam Rifles Commandant, his family members among those killed in terrorist ambush

A convoy of a Commanding Officer of the Assam Rifles unit has been ambushed by terrorists in the Singhat sub-division of Manipur’s Churachandpur district as per multiple reports.

"Family members of the officer along with a quick reaction team were in the convoy. Casualties feared. Operations are still going on. Further details are awaited," sources in the Army ANI.

The commanding officer has been identified as Colonel Viplav Tripathi, who was “returning from one of his Coy posts in Myanmar border" when the attack took place, reports News18. An official that among the dead three were from the Quick Response Team.

According to The Hindu, Col Viplav Tripathi, his wife and son along with four other soldiers killed in the ambush. Three injured in the incident were taken to Behiang Primary Health Centre

The incident took place near the Myanmar border in the Churachandpur district of Manipur around 10 am on Saturday.

Police sources told NDTV, intermittent firing is going on. This is the first time that civilians have died in an ambush in this remote area of the district.

Initial reports suggest that the Manipur-based People’s Liberation Army is suspected to be behind this attack although there is no confirmation on this yet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that their sacrifice will never be forgotten. He 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."

Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh strongly condemned the ambush and said that such a cowardly act will not leave easily. He will do his best to book the culprits legally.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the "cowardly attack" and gave his condolences.

West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee also condemned the attack and offered her condolences.

The Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force that operates under the Army's control and is India’s oldest paramilitary force dating back to 1835 when it was raised as a force called ‘Cachar Levy’. It is used mainly for counter-insurgency operations in the northeast.