Two Assam Rifles Personnel Killed in Ambush in Manipur's Ukhrul District
Imphal: Two personnel of the Assam Rifles were killed in an ambush by suspected militants on National Highway 202 in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Monday afternoon. The district is predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga community.
The incident occurred around 2 pm when personnel of the 40 Assam Rifles were travelling from Ukhrul headquarters to their battalion headquarters at Shangshak. Security forces rushed to the site, and an exchange of fire followed. Further operations are underway, police said in a statement.
The deceased have been identified as Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Constable CM Singh, who was reportedly driving the vehicle at the time of the attack. Both were critically injured and later succumbed to their injuries.
Local villagers reported that heavy gunfire and multiple explosions rocked the area for nearly two hours, causing panic in nearby villages. The Assam Rifles has not yet issued an official statement on the incident. No militant group has claimed responsibility.
However, sources from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), or NSCN(IM), which has a stronghold in Ukhrul, said the ambush is suspected to have been carried out by a "breakaway Eastern Flank faction." This claim has not been independently verified.
Monday's attack marks the second major strike on Assam Rifles personnel since the outbreak of the ethnic conflict in Manipur in May 2023. The previous attack occurred in September 2025 in Nambol, Bishnupur district, where two personnel were killed and five others injured.
The circumstances surrounding the ambush and the identity of the attackers remain under investigation. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
