In one of the deadliest attacks on the Indian Army in recent years, 18 soldiers were killed and 11 others were injured when militants ambushed their convoy in Chandel district, Manipur, on Thursday. The attack, which took place around 8:30 a.m., was claimed by the Naga rebel group National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K). The attack involved improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), with heavy gunfire targeting a four-vehicle convoy of the 6 Dogra Regiment.
The ambush left several soldiers' bodies charred. Injured soldiers were airlifted to a military hospital near Imphal, and a reinforcement party was sent to the site for combing operations. The NSCN-K, in a statement, confirmed the ambush, stating that it was carried out by an elite strike unit of the Naga Army, along with other local insurgent groups like KYKL and KCP.
The attack follows growing tensions in the region, including protests in Chandel after an alleged killing of a woman by Assam Rifles personnel. This incident has exacerbated an already volatile situation in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the attack, paying tribute to the soldiers' sacrifices. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar condemned the attack as a "cowardly act" and vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. Home Minister Rajnath Singh also condemned the attack, promising that the government's efforts to ensure peace and security would continue.
This attack is the worst the Indian Army has faced in over a decade, highlighting the ongoing insurgency challenges in the Northeast, where multiple militant groups operate. The NSCN-K's increasing activity and external influences, including alleged links to China, have raised concerns about the region's stability.