Colonel, family, among 7 dead in Manipur ambush, PM and others express condolences

Convoy of a Commanding Officer of an Assam Rifles unit was ambushed by terrorists in the Singhat sub-division of Manipur’s Churachandpur district.

Manipur:At least seven people, including five soldiers and two civilians, were killed after the convoy of the Commanding Officer of an Assam Rifles unit was ambushed by suspected militants in the Singhat sub-division of Manipur’s Churachandpur district.

Those killed include a Commanding Officer (CO) of the 46th battalion of the Assam Rifles, Colonel Viplav Tripathy, his wife and son and four soldiers. The incident took place at S Saikhom village in the district.

Although no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack, the People Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur - a banned outfit - is suspected to be behind the attack.

An official statement by the DG Assam Rifles said that the convoy was ambushed by insurgents in Manipur's Thinghat on Saturday at 11 AM.

"Five soldiers including Col Viplav Tripathi Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The family of Commanding Officer i.e wife and child also lost their lives in the incident. DG and all ranks of Assam Rifles offer condolences to the brave soldiers and families of the deceased," the statement read.

Condemning the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that their sacrifice will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of sadness, he tweeted.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, while condemning the incident, called the attack cowardly. He said that the security forces were already trying to track down the attackers.

"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," Singh said in a tweet.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also condemned the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy. Expressing his condolences for those killed in the attack, the Minister said that the perpetrators will be brought to justice soon.

The Congress party expressed shock over the incident, calling the "devastating national security breach under BJP rule, both in Centre & State" as condemnable.

"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," the party tweeted.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to Twitter to condemn the "cowardly act." While Priyanka Gandhi paid tribute to the martyred soldiers, Rahul Gandhi took a stronger tone to criticize the Modi government for being "incapable of protecting the nation."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also took to Twitter to condole the death of five soldiers and two civilians killed in the attack.