Deadly Ambush in Manipur: Two Assam Rifles Jawans Martyred, Four Injured in Militant Strike Near Imphal
Suspected insurgents target paramilitary convoy in Bishnupur district amid simmering ethnic tensions, just days before valley militants’ bandh protesting 1949 merger—first fatal attack on central forces in a year
By NewsArc Bureau
Imphal | September 19, 2025
In a brazen assault that has reignited fears of escalating violence in Manipur’s volatile valleys, two jawans from the 33rd Battalion of Assam Rifles were killed and four others critically injured when their truck came under heavy gunfire from unidentified militants in Bishnupur district on Friday evening. The attack, which unfolded around 5:40 PM at Nambol Sabal Leikai—a bustling locality just 8 km from Imphal’s international airport—marks the first deadly strike on central security forces in the state since last year, underscoring the fragile security amid ongoing ethnic strife.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as the paramilitary convoy, en route from Imphal to Bishnupur, was suddenly engulfed in a hail of bullets from assailants hiding in nearby vegetation. “The firing was intense and sustained for about 10 minutes; locals rushed to help pull the wounded from the wreckage,” recounted a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that the truck bore the brunt of the ambush, its windshield shattered and sides riddled with holes. The fallen heroes, whose identities are yet to be officially disclosed pending family notifications, were part of routine patrols in the Meitei-dominated valley region, a hotspot for sporadic clashes since the May 2023 ethnic riots between Kukis and Meiteis that displaced over 60,000 and claimed more than 220 lives.
Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area, launching a massive combing operation that stretched into the night, with reinforcements from the Indian Army’s Red Shield Division and Manipur Police joining the hunt. Preliminary investigations point to valley-based insurgent outfits, possibly the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) or affiliates, though no group has formally claimed responsibility as of press time. Social media buzz, including unverified videos circulating on X, showed smoke rising from the site and ambulances ferrying the injured to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, where doctors reported the casualties as stable but battling severe gunshot wounds.
The timing of the ambush adds a layer of foreboding: It comes just two days before a statewide bandh on September 21, called by valley-based militant coalitions protesting the 1949 Manipur Merger Agreement—the instrument that integrated the erstwhile princely state into India. Separatist groups like the Coordination Committee (CorCom) view the pact, signed under duress by Maharaja Bodh Chandra Singh amid post-Independence pressures, as a “colonial annexation” and have long demanded its abrogation. Past bandhs have seen heightened tensions, with similar shutdowns in 2024 leading to sporadic violence and disruptions in Imphal’s commercial hubs.
Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey, in a strongly worded statement, condemned the “cowardly and dastardly act,” vowing that the perpetrators “will be hunted down and brought to justice without fail.” Chief Minister N. Biren Singh echoed the sentiment, directing all district administrations to ensure public safety during the upcoming bandh while assuring the kin of the slain jawans of ex-gratia payments and support. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, briefed on the incident, instructed heightened vigilance along key routes and borders, with additional Assam Rifles battalions deployed to the periphery.
This ambush evokes grim parallels to the last major attack on central forces in November 2023, when a CRPF jawan was killed and three others wounded in Jiribam district’s bordering forests—also attributed to suspected militants exploiting the ethnic faultlines. Despite over 50,000 troops deployed since the 2023 flare-up, insurgents continue to exploit the rugged terrain and cross-border sanctuaries in Myanmar for hit-and-run tactics. Analysts warn that such strikes could embolden factions amid stalled peace talks, with the UNLF recently rejecting tripartite negotiations under the SoO (Suspension of Operations) framework.
As search operations intensify, tributes poured in from across the spectrum. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, whose state contributes heavily to the Assam Rifles, termed it a “black day” and announced Rs 10 lakh aid per family. On X, netizens shared photos of the bullet-pocked vehicle, with hashtags like #SaluteToTheBrave and #ManipurAmbush trending, blending grief with calls for retribution.
In a state where over 4,000 weapons have been looted since 2023 and militancy claims persist, Friday’s bloodbath serves as a stark reminder of the Northeast’s unfinished peace. With the bandh looming, authorities brace for potential copycat violence, even as the nation honors the valor of those who fell defending it. Om Shanti to the departed; may their sacrifice hasten an end to Manipur’s torment.
