Guwahati: The wreath-laying ceremony of the martyred soldiers in the Manipur ambush on November 13 was held today at the Imphal Airport, Manipur in presence of the state Chief Minister N.Biren Singh.
The ambush which took place on November 13 around 11 am in the Singhat sub-division of Churachandpur district in Manipur has claimed as many as seven lives including Commanding Officer of 46 Assam rifles, Viplav Tripathi, his wife Anuja Tripathi, his six year old son Abir Tripathi, while many were injured.
Along side the COL and his family, a driver and three Quick Response Team (QRT) personnel are among the deceased.
COL Tripathi’s convoy was attacked when COL Tripathi with his family and driver was returning from Behiang.
Besides Tripathi, other martyred soldiers have been identified as — Suman Swargiary, Khatnei Konyak, R.P Meena and Shyamlal Das.
CM Biren Singh paid last tribute to the Assam Rifles martyrs at the wreath laying ceremony.
Talking to Northeast Live/ News Live, Manipur CM Biren Singh said that those with vested interests are attempting to destabilise the state’s peace.
The Chief Minister said, ” I was really shocked on hearing the news about the ambush which led to the death of seven including the commanding officer of Assam Rifles and his family.”
He said crackdown on illegal activities will continue in the state and that perpetrators will not be spared.
The mortal remains of the martyred soldiers will brought to Guwahati airport, from where they will be flown to their respective homes.
The broad daylight attack was carried out by two banned militant organisations, of Manipur, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF)
It may be mention that hours after the ambush the PLA and MNPF in a joint statement claimed responsibility for the attack and said that they were unaware that Colonel Tripathi’s wife and his son were in the convoy.
The statement further said, “Indian security forces should not bring their families to a place which has been declared by Government of India as a disturbed area.”
The joint statement was issued by Roben Khuman, deputy publicity secretary of the Revolutionary People’s Front (PLA’s political wing), and Thomas Numai, MNPF secretary publicity.
