Manipur locals protest in Nambol after Assam Rifles ambush leaves two jawans dead

A day after two Assam Rifles personnel were killed in an ambush at Nambol Sabal Leikai in Bishnupur district, residents of the area staged protests on Saturday morning, condemning the brutal attack.

Wearing traditional mourning attire, locals gathered near the ambush site, raising slogans and holding placards denouncing the violence for “creating fear and panic among the public.” Women later led a protest rally, voicing outrage over the firing in a crowded area and demanding an end to such assaults on security forces.

The ambush on Friday evening claimed the lives of Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap, while five others sustained injuries. The injured personnel were evacuated to RIMS hospital and are reportedly stable.

In a defence statement, officials confirmed that the Assam Rifles column was ambushed by unidentified armed men in a denotified area of Manipur’s Imphal Valley, where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is not in force. “In the ensuing action, two personnel of Assam Rifles were martyred and five were injured. Search operations are ongoing to apprehend the terrorists,” the statement read.

One of the injured, N Nongthon, recounted the sudden attack. “The assailants, around four to five, suddenly opened fire at us. We did not retaliate immediately as it would have endangered civilians nearby,” he said.

Also Read: Two Assam Rifles personnel killed by gunmen in Manipur's Bishnupur

The protests were marked by strong condemnation from locals as well as organisations across Manipur. Prominent Churachandpur-based group Kuki Zo Council also denounced the ambush, stressing that targeting paramilitary forces in public areas was unacceptable.

One protester, S Bungo, questioned the motives behind the strike. “What exactly did the armed men want to achieve through this barbaric and unprovoked attack? The restraint shown by the uniformed personnel should not be mistaken for weakness,” he said.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla expressed grief over the deaths, offering condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the swift recovery of the injured. “The governor acknowledged the courage and dedication of the martyred soldiers in protecting the nation,” a Raj Bhavan statement said.

An uneasy calm prevailed in Imphal and Bishnupur through Saturday, as search operations continued and the attackers remained unidentified.