A colonel, his, wife, and his 8-year-old son were among 7 who were killed in an ambush on 46 Assam Rifles convoy by terrorists in Manipur.
The Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, Colonel Viplav Tripathy, had gone to a forward camp on Saturday and was returning when his convoy was ambushed. Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife and son, and four soldiers were killed in this ambush near the border with Myanmar in Manipur. The ambush on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur took place at 10 am.
The terror attack – one of the deadliest in the region in recent times – took place at 11 am in Manipur’s Churachandpur district.
“Five soldiers including Colonel Viplav Tripathi, Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The family of the Commanding Officer – wife and child – also lost their lives. DG and all ranks of Assam Rifles offer condolences to the brave soldiers and families,” the Assam Rifles said in a statement.
Manipur-based terrorist group People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, is believed to be behind the attack, though no group has claimed responsibility yet, police sources have said.
Manipur Police sources said they speculate at least four insurgent groups active in the area carried out the ambush where there was an invented explosive device, or IED, blast before heavy firing from both sides of the road started, the sources said.
This is the first time that civilians have died in an ambush in this remote area of the district. The location is an extremely isolated village around 50 km from Churachandpur.
Colonel Tripathi was posted in Mizoram before Manipur. People in Mizoram’s capital Aizawl who knew the Colonel said he was a very polite officer and would often help civilians in his area of operation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences and condemned the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy. “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,” PM Modi 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 13, 2021
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack and gave his condolences. “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,” Mr Singh tweeted.
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.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 13, 2021
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh tweeted that a counter-operation has been launched to track down the terrorists.
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.
— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) November 13, 2021
Manipur, like many of the north-eastern states, has housed several insurgencies fighting for either greater autonomy or secession. For decades, the Army has been deployed to the area that has borders with China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force of the Indian Army, dating back to 1835 under the British Raj. The present name of “Assam Rifles” has been used since 1917 and is a specialised force that carries out anti-insurgency operations in the sensitive tough terrain of the North East and is under the control of the Indian Army of the Ministry of Defence. Since 2002, the force has been given the role of guarding the India–Myanmar border.
It is assumed that the terrorists may have crossed over to Myanmar and would be difficult to nab.