Two Assam Rifles jawans were killed and five others injured on Friday as gunmen ambushed their vehicle in Manipur. The slain soldiers were identified as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap. The incident came hours after locals led extensive protests in Ningthoukhong town over the “arbitrary” arrest of one person by security forces.
According to reports quoting officials, the incident took place while paramilitary forces were travelling through the Nambol Sabal Leikai area around 6 pm. The gunmen had ambushed their vehicle on National Highway 2 — killing two jawans and injuring five others in an unprovoked bout of automatic weapon fire. The column of the 33 Assam Rifles had been heading from Imphal to Bishnupur district when the attack took place.
“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 were injured who have since been evacuated to RIMS and are currently stable. Search operations are ongoing to apprehend the terrorists involved in the incident,” a defence statement said.
“I am deeply shaken to hear about the ambush on our brave 33 Assam Rifles personnel at Nambol Sabal Leikai. The loss of two jawans and injuries to several others is a cruel blow to us all. My deepest condolences to the families of the fallen and prayers for the quick recovery of the injured. Their courage and sacrifice will remain in our hearts forever. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must face the harshest punishment,” former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh wrote on X.
The state has been operating under President’s Rule since February 2025 — following the resignation of Singh. The Manipur Legislative Assembly also remains in a state of suspended animation amid the deep-rooted ethnic unrest. Manipur has been reeling from ethnic violence since May 2023 — wit thousands of families displaced from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.