Militants kill two Assam Rifles in an ambush in Manipur

Security personnel stand guard in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. File. | Photo credit: ANI

Unidentified gunmen ambushed an Assam Rifles patrol in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Monday (July 6, 2026) afternoon, killing two personnel and injuring others.

District officials said the incident occurred near Nungshangkhong, about 16 km east of Ukhrul town, at around 1.30 pm. Intermittent gunfire was reported in the area until about 4:30 p.m.

The ambushed personnel reportedly belonged to a troop of 40 Assam Rifles stationed at Sangshak in the district. They were identified as Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh.

Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, Director General, Assam Rifles, paid tribute to his fallen men and expressed his deepest condolences to their families.

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killing and expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. “The government will not tolerate such brutal violence and will not remain a mute spectator to these atrocities,” he said.

He said those responsible will be arrested and punished.

Some reports said that the attack was carried out by members of the eastern wing faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalimu (NSCN). The NSCN is also known as the Isak-Muivah faction of the Nagaland National Socialist Council, which has been part of the July 1997 ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, the NSCN “Ministry of Information” rubbished the existence of such a faction, saying it was “neither involved nor aware of the ambush”. “The organization remains firmly committed to the ceasefire agreement with the Government of India and continues to uphold its obligations under the agreed ground rules,” the group said.

The NSCN further said that it will never resort to any action that could undermine, derail or sabotage the ongoing “Indo-Naga” political negotiations.

Published – 06 Jul 2026 21:14 IST