Assam Rifles Pays Emotional Tribute to Two Brave Soldiers Killed in Manipur Terror Attack
In a heartfelt ceremony, the Assam Rifles honored two of its jawans who lost their lives in a shocking terrorist ambush in Manipur. The attack happened on Friday evening, claiming the lives of Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap, while injuring five others.
Security forces shared that the incident unfolded around 5:50 pm near Nambol Sabal Leikai on National Highway 2. Unidentified terrorists fired automatic weapons at a convoy of the 33rd Assam Rifles unit as it moved through a crowded, built-up area in the dark. This spot in Bishnupur district had been declared free from the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, making the attack even more brazen.
Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, the Director General of Assam Rifles, led the tributes. In a moving post on X (formerly Twitter), he said, "All ranks of Assam Rifles pay solemn tribute to Nb Sub Shyam Gurung & Rfn Ranjit Singh Kashyap who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Manipur today. We offer deep condolences to the families of our brave soldiers."
The injured personnel received quick medical help and were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital in Imphal. Officials report they’re now stable. Search operations continue in the area, but no group has claimed responsibility yet for this Manipur terror attack.
This tragedy hits hard amid ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which erupted on May 3, 2023, between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The clashes have displaced thousands of families, forcing many into relief camps and worsening daily life.
But there’s some positive news on the peace front. Earlier this month, the Kuki-Zo Council agreed to reopen National Highway 2 (NH-2), a vital route linking Manipur to Nagaland and the rest of Northeast India. The highway had been blocked since the violence started, causing major shortages of essentials.
This decision came after talks in New Delhi between Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials and Kuki-Zo leaders. The council pledged full cooperation with Indian security forces to keep peace along NH-2. It’s a big step to help displaced families and ease hardships for civilians.
In another key move, a tripartite meeting on September 4 brought together the MHA, Manipur government, and groups like the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF). They signed a renewed Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement for one year, focusing on protecting Manipur’s borders and finding a lasting solution to the conflict.
Under the new rules, KNO and UPF will move seven camps away from trouble spots, cut down on camp numbers, store weapons in nearby CRPF and BSF facilities, and verify all members to weed out any foreign nationals. A joint monitoring team will watch over things, and any violations could lead to tough action, including scrapping the agreement.
These efforts show hope for stability in Manipur amid the ethnic tensions, even as incidents like this terror attack remind everyone of the challenges ahead.
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