Colonel slain in Manipur was 'steeped in patriotism'

Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife Anuja and son Abir were found riddled with bullets on a remote forest track in Manipur in an ambush on Saturday.

Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel expressed deep condolences on the martyrdom of Colonel Viplav Tripathi and condemned the attack as a cowardly act.
Col Viplav Tripathi's grandfather was freedom fighter Kisorimohan Tripathi, a member of the Indian Constitution Draft Committee and the first MP from Raigarh-Surguja in 1951, and his father Subhas Tripathi is the owner and editor of a Hindi daily in Raigarh, Chattisgarh.


Col Viplav joined Sainik School, Rewa (MP), and cracked the tough National Defence Academy exam in his first attempt. His brother, Lt Colonel Anay Tripathi too dons the Olive Green.

It has hardly been a week since the elderly Tripathis returned home after spending Diwali with Col Viplav and his family in Manipur.

The death of Col Tripathi, his wife and son has stunned all of Chhattisgarh into silence. A close relative of the family told TOI that the distraught father is cut up by the thought of Abir's death, and says it wrenches his heart out.

"The parents are too shocked to express any emotion. They had returned earlier this week after spending a delightful Diwali with Viplav. The two brothers have always been passionate about the military, great guys to be with," a close relative said. "Just having them around lights up a room."

Lt Col Anay was headed for Mhow Army War College when news of his brother's death reached. He has set off for Manipur to bring back the mortal remains of Viplav, Anuja and Abir. They will be cremated on Monday.