Manipur: Militant groups MNPF, PLA and ULFA-I claim ambush on Assam Rifles team in Chandel district

Dispur: Three militant groups of North East India have owned up an ambush on Assam Rifles patrolling team in Chandel district of Manipur along Indo-Myanmar border. In a joint statement issued and signed by the three militant groups, it has been claimed that a combined force of Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) which is the armed wing of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Independent faction of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA-I), led by Commander-in-Chief, Paresh Baruah had conducted a joint military offensive against the Indian Security Forces in Chandel district of Manipur which claimed the lives of 3 Assam Rifles personnel besides injuring several others on 29 July.

It was 18:30 hours on July 29 near Sajiktampak village in Chandel district of Manipur along Indo-Myanmar border when a foot patrolling team of the Assam Rifles came under a deadly ambush.

According to sources a foot patrolling team of 4 Assam Rifles were about 3 kilometres from the Indo-Myanmar border and was coming back to their post-Khongtal after 3 days of operation along the international border when the party came under a deadly ambush.

The party came under the ambush somewhere midway around 2 kilometres away from their post in Khongtal. According to sources, the Assam Rifles patrolling team was first faced with IED and mine blasts which were set as traps.

This was followed by indiscriminate firing with lethode like Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and automatic weapons from the militant side who carried out the attack taking cover of the thick jungles and hilly terrain.

The Assam Rifles patrolling team also retaliated to this attack and there was a heavy exchange of fire, but so far the casualty on the militant side is not known. Manipur is a hotbed of several militant groups who are very much active along the Indo-Myanmar border and there are several instances of an ambush carried out against security forces in the past.

Hit-and-run is a tactic taken by the militant groups to attack the security forces and sneak into Myanmar taking advantage of the porous border. A massive manhunt and combing operation has been launched in the area by Assam Rifles and Manipur Police personnel following this deadly attack.