18 Soldiers killed in Manipur ambush attack, largest peacetime loss since 1993

NEW DELHI: Insurgents ambushed a military convoy in Manipur's Chandel district on Thursday morning, killing at least 18 soldiers in one of the worst attacks on the Army in years. A senior Army official said the casualty figure in the Moltuk valley attack could rise as 11 soldiers are seriously injured. The Army has not revealed the identity of those killed or injured. Prior to the ambush, the situation had been relatively peaceful in Chandel, which borders Myanmar.

Sources said the convoy was ambushed when troops of the 6 Dogra Regiment were de-inducting from the area and were on their way to a peace posting. The insurgents managed to strike despite a patrol being tasked with clearing the convoy's route.

Insurgents first used an improvised explosive device and then attacked the convoy with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons.


Later in the day, the government called a meeting between the ministers of home and defence in New Delhi to chalk out a response. The NSA was present at the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the attack as "very distressing". "I bow to each and every soldier who has sacrificed his life for the nation," he tweeted. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said those who have committed the cowardly act would be brought to book. Meanwhile, Efforts are on to identity the outfit responsible for the attack, although a Meitei role is not being ruled out.

"Return of active insurgency conditions to the northeast was imminent from the run of recent incidents involving the Assam Rifles and the Army in recent weeks," Lt Gen Ata Hasnain (retd) told ET. "It will take the Army's full experience and some hard-hitting operations to regain the initiative. The insurgents should remain warned that the Army does not forget and retribution against those responsible will be its prime focus."

Thursday's attack is the largest peacetime loss for the Army since 1993, when 26 soldiers were killed in a similar ambush in Nagaland.