Assam Rifles' patrol attacked in Manipur

Suspected militants attacked an Assam Rifles patrol vehicle in Manipur's Tengnoupal district on Thursday. None of the 10 soldiers travelling in the mine-protected vehicle sustained injuries when the attackers set off a low-intensity bomb and opened gunfire, an official said.

The soldiers, patrolling in Saibol area of the district, retaliated but there is no information on whether any of the rebels were injured or killed. "After the explosion, the militants fired some rounds and Assam Rifles jawans retaliated," the official said, adding that the rebels had used an improvised explosive device. A search operation has been launched for the suspected militants, the person said.

Manipur has been in the grip of ethnic violence since May 3 following a tribal solidarity rally that turned violent in Churachandpur district, leading to retaliatory attacks between Chin-Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities in the state.


The army had earlier said that some hostile elements have made desperate, repeated, and failed attempts to question the role, intent and integrity of central security forces, especially the Assam Rifles, working in Manipur since the start of violence in May.