AR CO, wife, kid, four soldiers die in ambush
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 13 2021:
The Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles, his wife and their 6-year-old son along with four personnel were killed and 6 others left injured in a militant attack at S Sehken village in Churachandpur district around 10 am Saturday.
The slain CO has been identified as Col Viplav Tripathi (CO-46 AR) s/o of Subash Tripathi, and his wife as Anuja Tripathi.
Their 6-year-old son, identified as Abir Tripathi, was studying in Class I at Centre Paul Institute, Lamka, Churachandpur.
The other four deceased personnel have been identified as riflemen RP Meena, Suman Swargiary, Khatnei Konyak and Shyamlal Das.
Meanwhile, the six injured personnel are Warrant Officer (WO) Anand Singh, havildar Subir Paul and riflemen Sachindra Deb Barma, RN Mardi, Sandeep Patil and Bhutiya Meraman.
Deceased Col Viplav Tripathi's father Subash Tripathi is the editor of Raigarh-based daily, Dainik Wire.
All the deceased and injured personnel were part of Col Viplav Tripathi's Quick Reaction Team.
Havildar Subir Paul, who sustained serious injuries, was taken to Shija Hospital for treatment, while WO Anand Singh and rifleman Bhutiya Meraman were taken to IGAR (South).
Riflemen Sachindra Dev, RN Mardi Mardi and Sandeep Patil have been admitted to the military hospital in Leimakhong.
The bodies of CO Col Viplav Tripathi, his wife and son along that of the four personnel were shifted from Churachandpur District Headquarters to JNIMS Mortuary late in the evening.
According to a report, the attack took place at S Sehken village near Behiang village,' located 65km from Churachandpur District Headquarters.
S Sehken village is located close to the Indo-Myanmar border pillar no 43 .
Col Viplav Tripathi, his wife and son had visited a post of the 46 Bn on Friday and stayed there for the night.
On Saturday morning, they left for the Battalion headquarters at Khuga, but were ambushed along the route near S Sehken village by a heavily armed militant group.
The group detonated an IED and fired many rounds at the convoy.
The convoy also retaliated but Col Viplav Tripathi, his wife and son, and four personnel were killed on the spot.
On receiving report of the attack, additional forces from the Beihang post of the Battalion shifted the injured to Beihang PHC for emergency first aid, after which they were transported to Imphal in helicopter.
More reinforcement rushed to the scene and conducted an extensive search of the area.
However, there were no reports of any arrests made till the time of filing this report.
The Army, Assam Rifles and police forces led by senior police and para military officials have launched a massive combing operation in the area to nab the militants.
The location is an extremely remote village more than 130 km north of Imphal.
Manipur has over 40 outlawed insurgent groups, a large majority oi them lying low following their signing of separate suspension of operation agreements with the government.
In 2015, 20 para-military personnel were killed in an attack in Chandel district, after which the Army had reportedly launched a surgical strike on their camps in Myanmar.
In July 2020, three security personnel of 4th Assam Rifles were killed in an ambush by ULFA (I), RPF and MNPF at Khongtal village near Indo-Myanmar border in Chandel district.
The three martyred personnel were Havildar Pranay Kalita from Assam, Rifleman Ratan Salam of Thoubal district, Manipur and Rifleman Methna Konyak from Nagaland.
(With inputs from agencies) .
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