Imphal: Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed and five others injured after armed assailants ambushed their vehicle in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Friday evening, officials said.
The attack occurred around 5.50 pm at Nambol Sabal Leikai, about 16 km from Imphal.
Defence officials said unidentified gunmen opened fire on a patrol column travelling from Imphal towards Bishnupur.
In the exchange, Naik Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Keshap lost their lives, while five others sustained injuries.
The wounded were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where doctors said they were in stable condition.
“Forensic teams recovered several empty cartridges from the site. Search operations are under way to track down the attackers,” a senior police official said.
Additional security forces have been deployed to the area.
One of the injured soldiers, Ningthoukhongjam Nongthon, recounted that four to five assailants opened fire suddenly.
“We held back our response as civilians were present nearby. Retaliation would have endangered them,” he told reporters.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla strongly condemned the ambush, calling it a “heinous act of violence” and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
“The courage and sacrifice of the martyred soldiers will always be remembered,” the Raj Bhavan said in a statement, adding that those responsible would face the “strongest resolve” of the state.
Former chief minister N Biren Singh visited the injured at RIMS, expressing grief and demanding the harshest punishment for the perpetrators.
“Their sacrifice will remain in our hearts forever,” he said.
The ambush site falls in an area not covered by the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which remains in force across most of Manipur barring 13 police station limits in five valley districts.
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The attack came hours after protesters in Bishnupur blocked a main road over the arrest of a 45-year-old man, underlining the volatile security situation in the state.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February, following months of ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities that have claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands since May 2023.
The injured personnel were identified as Hav BK Rai of Sikkim, DJ Dutta of Assam’s Lakhimpur, LP Sangma of Tura in Meghalaya, Subashchandra of Uttarakhand, and Ningthoukhongjam Nongthon of Imphal East.
