Assam Rifles: Guardians of Peace and Humanity in Manipur

By M S Nazki

Wisdom is an earned trench by trench, street by street, from one battle line to the next……. And God teaches forgiveness! ……..And thus the game of life and martyrdom continues………..We salute you 33 Assam Rifles……..the rarest of the rarest and bravest of the brave!

-Aaaa… aaaaa, aye mere vatan ke logon, tum khoob laga lo naara, Ye shubh din hai ham sab ka lahara lo tiranga pyaara, par mat bhoolo seema par, veeron ne hai praan ganvaaye, kuch yaad unhein bhi kar lo, jo laut ke ghar na aaye….. Aaaa… aaaaa…..Aye mere vatan ke logon!

-We always say live for today and don’t waste time worrying about tomorrow. But what keeps us up at night is knowing that tomorrow is roaring down on us like a tsunami, and a lot of us don’t know how to swim! But the soldiers of 33 Assam Rifles know the art of swimming better than anyone else!

• I’ve heard that our happiness level remains mostly stable throughout our lives, no matter what happens. Win the lottery, and whatever happiness the money brings will fade. Lose a loved one, and we bounce back. According to the psychologists, we have a happiness set point. We don’t deviate too far from it. Maybe trauma was the same way…………..(These lines are for commanding officer 33 Assam Rifles who lost two sons of his battalion ……(MD)!

-Tragedies in Manipur have happened in a heap but we will recite two:

-A tragic incident involved Colonel Viplav Tripathi, an Indian Army officer from Manipur, who was killed with his wife and son by militants in an ambush in 2021.

-More recently, the story of Serto Thangthang Kom, an Army jawan on leave in 2023, who was abducted and murdered by unidentified miscreants in his own village, highlights the dangers faced by soldiers and their families in the region. He was killed by a single bullet to the head, and his son was the sole eyewitness to the abduction. The jawan was abducted by “unidentified miscreants” while on leave in Manipur. His body was found in Khuningthek Village.

-Facts from history!

The Insurgency in Northeast India is an ongoing armed conflict in a number of India’s northeastern states involving several militant groups with various political ideologies, including separatism and Christian nationalism and the Indian government. The northeastern states are connected to the rest of India by the Siliguri Corridor, a strip of land as narrow as 14.29 miles (23.00 km) wide.

-Northeastern India consists of seven states (also known as the Seven Sister States): Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland.

-Tensions existed between insurgents in these states and the central government as well as amongst their native indigenous people and migrants from other parts of India and illegal immigrants.

-We will concentrate on Manipur today:

-The annexation of Manipur in 1949 led to split in the polity of Manipur. Political organizations such as Manipur State Congress actively campaigned for union with India while organizations such as Praja Sangh and other parties opposed the union.s

• During this time, Hijam Irabot, a leader of the Communist Party of Manipur was in touch with the Communist Party of Burma to arrange for the training of the militant wing of the party, the Red Guards. After Irabot’s death the movement split into various factions.

-In the second wave of the insurgency, the first separatist faction, known as United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was founded on 24 November 1964.

-However, they did not take armed action until 1991. Between 1977 and 1980, the People’s Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), were formed, immediately joining the war.

-Naga insurgency began in the 1980s with the founding of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland.

-This was followed by the formation of Kuki National Front and the Kuki National Organisation and its armed wing Kuki National Army in 1987 and 1988 respectively.

• On 8 September 1980, Manipur was declared an area of disturbance, when the Indian Government imposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 on the region; the act currently remains in force. The provision was lifted in various parts of Manipur in March 2023.

-The parallel rise of Naga nationalism in neighboring Nagaland led to the emergence of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) activities in Manipur.

-Clashes between the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions of NSCN further aggravated tensions, as Kuki tribes began creating their own guerrilla groups in order to protect their interests from alleged Naga violations.

-Other ethnic groups such as Paite, Vaiphei, Pangals and Hmars followed suit establishing militant groups.

-This was just a brief and now we will come to the subject in hand!

-Two Assam Rifles personnel killed, five injured in terrorist ambush in Manipur’s Bishnupur district The injured were taken to a hospital by police and locals, another official said.

-Unidentified gunmen ambushed a mini truck carrying Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur on Friday, killing two and injuring four others.

-The incident occurred at around 5:45 pm in the Nambol Sabal Leikai area of Bishnupur district. Nambol is around 15 km from the state capital of Imphal.

-“In general area, Nambol Sabal Leikai, the column was ambushed by unidentified terrorists on the Highway, in the denotified area of Manipur. In the ensuing action, two personnel of Assam Rifles were martyred and five are injured who have since been evacuated to RIMS and are currently stable,” an army statement said.

-The attack came two days before a bandh called by valley-based rebel groups opposing Manipur’s merger agreement of September 21, 1949. In recent months, the police and security forces apprehended several militants in the state.

-2 Detained, Van Seized:

Two people were detained from Manipur on Saturday in connection with the ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy earlier this week that killed two soldiers and injured five others. A van, suspected to have been used in the incident, was also recovered from Mutum Yangbi in Imphal – nearly 12 km from the incident site, officials said.

According to the police, the recovered vehicle has multiple owners, all of whom are identified.

“During the last 24 hours, the overall law-and-order situation in the state was tense but under control. In the follow-up to the incident at Nambol Sabal Leikai in which two personnel of the Assam Rifles were martyred, security forces carried out a massive operation in Shantipur and Ishok areas,” the statement read.

-Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap attained martyrdom, Officials said that the terrorists fired at the paramilitary forces’ 407 Tata vehicle while it was travelling from its Patsoi company operating base to Nambol base at 5.50 pm. This is on the same road that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken during his recent visit to Manipur.

-A day after the incident, a high-level meeting was held, chaired by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, to discuss boosting security arrangements in vulnerable and sensitive areas of Manipur. Top state government officials and senior police personnel were present in the meeting.

-“The discussion stressed the need for coordinated action among all security agencies to ensure swift identification of the perpetrators. It was also resolved that security arrangements must be further strengthened in vulnerable and sensitive areas, including highways, transit routes, and border zones,” the Raj Bhavan said.

-Manipur has witnessed ethnic violence between two communities, the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes, since 2023, over a range of issues such as land rights and political representation. Over 260 have died in the violence, and nearly 50,000 have been internally displaced.

-Nambol Sabal Leikai, about 10 km from the site, during operations in Shantipur and Ishok areas.

-Manipur: Prime accused in Nambol ambush arrested:

-A joint team comprising Imphal West Police, Bishnupur Police, 33 Assam Rifles, and other security forces launched a special operation around 1 am.

-In a major breakthrough in law and order, security forces arrested the prime accused involved in the recent ambush on security personnel at Sabal Leikai, Nambol, which killed two jawans of the Assam Rifles and injured five others, officials said.

-According to a police report, acting on intelligence inputs about the presence of armed militants in the Kameng area of Imphal West district, a joint team comprising Imphal West Police, Bishnupur Police, 33 Assam Rifles, and other security forces launched a special operation around 1 am.

-During the operation, one person identified as Khundongbam Ojit Singh alias Keilal (47), son of late Kh. Mani Singh of Awang Leikinthabi Awang Leikai, Imphal West, was apprehended.

-“At the spot examination, he admitted that he is a bailed-out member of the PLA. He further stated that he continues to work for the PLA,” the police said.

-During interrogation, Singh revealed that he had been arrested earlier on April 22, 2007. Officials further stated that his examination confirmed his direct involvement in the September 19 ambush at Sabal Leikai, Nambol, around 5:30 pm, which targeted personnel of the 33 Assam Rifles.

-After opening fire on the Assam Rifles personnel, Singh and his associates fled towards the Loktak Lake side, where they hid their arms and ammunition at a secret location, the report added.

-Based on his disclosure, security forces recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition used in the ambush. The recoveries include one A4 rifle with four magazines, one HK rifle with two magazines, two AK rifles with five magazines, one INSAS rifle with three magazines, and three lathode shells. In addition, 170 rounds of AK ammunition, 216 rounds of M-16 ammunition, 67 rounds of INSAS ammunition, one mobile handset, a wallet, and an Aadhaar card were also seized.

-Examination of the arrested person is ongoing, and police said certain leads have been established. Raids are being carried out to apprehend other suspects involved in the Nambol ambush, they added.

-Zara aankh mein bhar lo paani, jo shaheed hue hain unki, zara yaad karo qurbaani! Aye mere vatan ke logon, zara aankh mein bhar lo paani, Jo Shahid Hue Hein Unki, Zaraa Yaad Karo qurbaani!…………..(The two who got martyred were heroes)

-A peep into behind the curtain:

The People’s Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA-MP) is a separatist militant group fighting for an independent and socialist Manipur, a state in northeastern India, through armed insurgency. It is the military wing of the Revolutionary People’s Front and was formed between 1977 and 1980, alongside other insurgent groups like the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP). Recently,

-Key Aspects of the PLA-MP: Goal: To establish an independent and socialist Manipur. Methods: It engages in armed insurgency against the Indian state. Political Wing: The PLA is part of the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF). Historical Context: Formed around the late 1970s, it is one of several insurgent groups operating in Manipur. The group’s activities highlight ongoing tensions and conflict within the region, which is home to various ethnic groups including the dominant Meitei people and Kuki-Zo tribes.

Solemn Tributes:

Solemn tributes were paid to Nb Sub Shyam Gurung and Rfn Ranjeet Singh Kashyap who made the supreme sacrifice during an ambush at Nambol Sabal Leikei, Bishnupur, Manipur on 19 September 2025 while returning from flood relief operations.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at Mantripukhri Garrison, Imphal where Hon’ble Governor of Manipur Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, GOC-in-C Eastern Command along with personnel from Assam Rifles, CAPFs, BSF and Manipur Police paid their respects to the fallen soldiers.

Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General of #AssamRifles & all ranks, salute the valiant soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty on 19 Sept.

-Locals condemn the attack:

The people of Manipur gathered today in heartfelt candlelight vigils and peaceful protests to condemn the cowardly Nambol Ambush of 19 September 2025. Communities across the state stood shoulder to shoulder, expressing solidarity with the brave soldiers and their families.

We pay our deepest respects to Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Their courage, devotion, and love for the nation will remain a guiding light for generations.

Let us honor their memory by standing united for peace, justice and harmony.

-Assam Rifles: Guardians of Peace and Humanity in Manipur

In the wake of a deeply disturbing and cowardly attack on personnel of the Assam Rifles, the people of Manipur and the nation must confront a harsh truth. This act of violence—perpetrated under the cover of darkness in a denotified AFSPA zone—was not only a direct assault on the brave soldiers of India’s oldest paramilitary force, but a betrayal of the very spirit of unity and compassion they represent.

The Assam Rifles, deployed across Manipur, have been relentlessly working to restore peace and stability amidst ongoing inter-community tensions. Their operations, conducted in close coordination with local police, target insurgent elements and anti-national miscreants who thrive on extortion and fear. These soldiers have consistently demonstrated restraint and professionalism, even in volatile environments where civilian safety remains paramount.

Beyond their security mandate, Assam Rifles has emerged as a transformative force in Manipur’s social landscape. Their efforts to combat drug trafficking, illicit liquor trade, and substance abuse have been instrumental in protecting the youth and nurturing a healthier society. Their role in securing the Indo-Myanmar border—often in treacherous terrain and remote outposts—underscores their unmatched dedication and grit.

What truly sets Assam Rifles apart is their humanitarian outreach. From flood relief and medical aid to clean water initiatives and solar lighting, their benevolent acts have touched countless lives. Their commitment to inclusive development is evident in their support for skill-building, education, and cultural engagement—empowering young minds across all communities and genders.

It is therefore unconscionable that such a heinous act was committed against these very men who had spent their day providing flood relief to affected citizens. The timing and location of the attack—designed to prevent retaliation and maximize harm—reveal a malicious intent that must be condemned in the strongest terms.

The final line: Jab ghayal hua himaalay, khatre mein padi aazadi, jab tak thi saans lade vo, jab tak thi saans lade vo, phir apni laash bichha di, sangeen pe dhar kar maatha, so gaye amar balidaani, Jo Shahid Hue Hein Unki, Zaraa Yaad Karo qurbaani……………! Again with moist eyes we close this story!