Assam Rifles Convoy Ambush in Manipur — Two Detained, Van Seized
Two people were detained and a van — suspected to have been used in the ambush — was recovered near Mutum Yangbi, roughly 12 km from the site of an attack on an Assam Rifles convoy that left two soldiers dead and five injured. The ambush occurred near Nambol Sabal Leikai when a Tata 407 truck carrying Assam Rifles personnel was fired upon while moving from Patsoi to Nambol. The injured were shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal. Security forces conducted large operations in surrounding areas such as Shantipur and Ishok, and a high-level meeting chaired by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla urged coordinated steps to identify the perpetrators and bolster security on vulnerable highways and transit routes.
The attack occurred while an Assam Rifles truck (a Tata 407) was travelling from its Patsoi company operating base en route to the Nambol base. Around 5:50 pm on the day of the incident, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the convoy at Nambol Sabal Leikai, in a denotified area near Imphal. The assault left Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap dead, and five other personnel injured; those injured were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal for treatment. Within 24 hours, security forces intensified operations in nearby pockets — notably Shantipur and Ishok — and recovered a van near Mutum Yangbi, about 12 kilometres from the ambush site. Two people were detained in connection with the attack.
FAQs
Q1: Where exactly did the ambush take place and when did it happen?
A1: The ambush occurred near Nambol Sabal Leikai on the highway segment between Patsoi and Nambol while an Assam Rifles Tata 407 truck was en route; the firing was reported at about 5:50 pm on the day of the incident. Injured personnel were taken to RIMS, Imphal for treatment.
Q2: How many people were detained and what was recovered?
A2: Two people were detained in connection with the ambush, and a van suspected of being used in the attack was recovered from Mutum Yangbi, about 12 km from the ambush site. Security operations were reported in Shantipur and Ishok following the incident
Q3: Who were the personnel killed in the attack?
A3: The two Assam Rifles personnel who were killed in the attack were identified as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap
Q4: Could this ambush spark wider communal violence in Manipur?
A4: Manipur has experienced prolonged ethnic tensions since 2023; while any violent event carries risk of escalation, authorities and community leaders can reduce that risk by ensuring quick, transparent investigations, avoiding premature attributions, and engaging trusted civic actors to calm communities. NDTV’s reporting notes the recent history of ethnic violence and displacement in the state, underscoring why calming measures are important.
Q5: How can citizens help investigations without putting themselves at risk?
A5: Citizens can aid investigators safely by reporting credible information to the police, preserving and sharing dashcam or CCTV footage through official channels, refraining from spreading unverified social-media claims, and cooperating with lawful requests for witness statements—always prioritising personal safety and avoiding direct confrontations with suspects.
