Four soldiers and the commanding officer of 46 Assam Rifles along with his eight-year-old son and wife were killed in an ambush by militants in Manipur’s Singhat. The attack happened about 3 km from Deheng, An army said in a statement.
Four others who were injured in the incident were taken to Behiang Primary Health Centre in a critical condition. Two others have sustained minor injuries.
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 at around 10 am in Churachandpur district, close to the border. Colonel Tripathi’s driver was also killed in the ambush, sources said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoled the deaths and promised justice. “The cowardly attack on an Assam Rifle’s 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,” he said in a tweet.
Input from Different Agencies.
