Two Assam Rifles Soldiers Killed in Militant Ambush in Manipur
Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed and five others injured after their vehicle was ambushed by unidentified militants in Manipur's Bishnupur district. The attack occurred in the Nambol area on Friday evening. The deceased were identified as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap. While no group has claimed responsibility, security officials suspect the involvement of a valley-based insurgent group. The incident highlights the persistent security challenges and ongoing violence in the state.
Unpacked:
Major insurgent groups in Manipur include the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), which are valley-based, primarily representing the Meitei community. Other groups like NSCN and Kuki National Army operate in the hills.
Violence in Manipur stems from ethnic tensions, demands for autonomy or independence by groups like the Meiteis, Nagas, and Kukis, and disputes over land and political representation. The imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1980 further exacerbated unrest.
Recent years have seen periodic escalations, including ethnic clashes and attacks on security forces. Some groups, like NSCN-IM, have entered ceasefires with the government, but violence persists, and peace remains fragile due to unresolved grievances and competing territorial claims.
The Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force tasked with counter-insurgency and border security in Northeast India. Its presence in Manipur is pivotal due to ongoing insurgency and ethnic violence, often making its personnel targets for militant attacks.