Assam Rifles unit hit in an attack in Manipur
In a cowardly terrorist attack in Manipur, it is reported that close to 7 people have lost their lives.
The Commanding Officer (CO), along with his family, of an Assam Rifles unit has been killed in the dastardly attack. Three paramilitary force personnel have also been killed in Singhat sub-division of Manipur’s Churachandpur district.
The attack took place near S Sehken village under Singhat sub-division when Col Tripathi along with his family and the other personnel of the paramilitary force of the Indian Army were returning from Behiang, a border post around 10am.
Colonel Viplav Tripathi’s wife and son were there in the convoy. The attack took place at around 10am as the commanding officer went to supervise a civic action programme in the district, reports said, the driver of the car is believed to be killed in the attack, which will take the toll to seven.
Modus Operandi
All the events that led upto the attack are not yet known. But Officials said terrorists first carried out an IED blast to ambush the convoy of Viplav Tripathi and then fired at the vehicles when the Colonel was returning from his forward company base to his battalion headquarters.
The unidentified militants opened fire using automatic rifles of AK series after blasting some powerful remote-controlled bombs near the Sekhen village, about 3 KM away from Behang sub-division in the district which is adjacent to Myanmar and Mizoram. The injured personnel were rushed to the primary health centre in the sub-division and later evacuated using two helicopters. More seriously injured personnel are likely to be airlifted to the military hospital at Leimakhong in Nagaland.
Terror Group
The Assam Rifles said in a statement they suspected that the insurgent group responsible for this massacre “must be from PREPAK (People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak) cadre as the PREPAK remembrance day is celebrated on 12/13 November 2021”. However, no group has taken up the responsibility for the attack so far.
Reactions
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh confirmed to news agency PTI that the commandant and others have been killed in the ambush.
“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,” the chief minister tweeted to inform about the attack. He further informed that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice for the attack.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh condemned the cowardly attack and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. “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 tweeted.
While showing condemnation of the attack, Congress also blamed BJP for the “security breach” in the bordering state.
“We are shocked by the news of deadly terror attack in Manipur resulting in the death of an Indian Army colonel, his family & soldiers of 46 AR.
Our condolences to bereaved families
This devastating national security breach under BJP rule, both in Centre & State, is condemnable” tweeted Congress.
Col. Viplav Tripati
Col. Viplav Tripati moved to Manipur in July of this year. Before this, he was serving in Mizoram and was a major force behind the state’s war on drugs.
During Col Tripati’s tenure in Mizoram, the Battalion has done major seizures of drugs and had several successful operations in the efforts to disrupt illegal smuggling including narcotics along the India-Myanmar border and hinterland. “The Battalion has also recovered several weapons and War like stores which could have landed in the hands of anti-national elements thus avoiding major casualties,” the officer above stated.