Six Assam Rifles personnel killed in ambush in Manipur

IMPHAL: A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and five jawans of Assam Rifles were today killed in an ambush by militants in Chandel district of Manipur near the Indo-Myanmar border.

An Assam Rifles convoy was attacked by heavily armed militants around 1 PM in Joupi Hengshi area of Chandel when the security personnel were returning after inspecting a landslide site in the interior tribal district, defence and police sources said.

The slain personnel belonged to 29 Assam Rifles.

It is suspected that two or more militant groups jointly carried out the attack.

More troops were rushed to the area and a massive search operation is underway, they said.

The incident occurred near Joupi village within the limits of Molcham Police Station, a police officer said.

Last year, 18 army personnel were killed in the same district in an ambush by NSCN(K) militants.