At least three soldiers belonging to Assam Rifles have been killed and seven others injured in an ambush in Chandel area of Manipur on the Indo-Myanmar border. Initial reports suggest the attack was carried out by an insurgent local outfit called People’s Liberation Army, which is believed to be covertly receiving regular financial aid and weapons from the Chinese military, according to intelligence agencies.
According to official sources, an area domination patrol in Khongtal in Chandel district of Manipur was ambushed last night on their way back. The group first carried out an IED blast and then opened fire at the patrolling party of Assam Rifles.
“Three Assam Rifles soldiers killed and seven others are injured in an ambush last night. Among injured six from Assam Rifles and one from the Indian Army,” an officer said.
The Assam Rifles is yet to release an official statement on the incident.
Security agencies have been following PLA outfits as earlier this year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed chargesheet against six PLA terrorists for the attack on an Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur in 2017.
In June 2015, the Indian Army’s convoy was targeted in the same area by insurgent groups and 18 soldiers of 6 Dogra Regiment lost their lives. Days later, special forces of the Indian Army had carried out a cross-border operation and neutralised around 30-40 NSCN (K) insurgents hiding in the jungles of Myanmar. Calling it a “hot pursuit”, Indian Army claimed to have inflicted massive damage to the insurgent camps hiding in the jungles along the border. It was considered as the Army’s first cross-border raid before the September 2016 surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the Uri attack.