Imphal, Sept 20: Unidentified gunmen ambushed an Assam Rifles convoy in Bishnupur district of Manipur on Friday evening, killing two soldiers and injuring five others.
The attack took place around 5:50 pm when a vehicle-borne column of Assam Rifles troops was moving along National Highway 2 near Nambol Sabal Leikai, a built-up area recently denotified from the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).
Officials said the convoy came under sudden and unprovoked fire from automatic weapons as it passed through the locality.
The martyred personnel have been identified as Nb Sub (GD) Shyam Gurung. He hailed from Happy Valley, Alugodam in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. He is survived by his wife, Puja Gurung, and son, Shri Milan Gurung.
The second soldier was Rfn (GD) Ranjeet Singh Kashyap. A native of Balenga Ogayguda village in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh, he is survived by his wife, Savitri Kashyap, and young daughter, Dhani Kashyap.
So far, no insurgent outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack. Security forces have launched an intensive search operation in the area to track down the perpetrators.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over security in AFSPA-denotified regions of Manipur, where armed groups continue to pose a threat despite ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.
