Security personnel stand guard in Ukhrul district of Manipur. 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 p.m. There were reports of intermittent exchange of fire till about 4:30 p.m. in the area.
The ambushed personnel reportedly belonged to the 40 Assam Rifles detachment stationed at Sangshak in the district. They have been identified as Warrant Officer Balwant Singh, and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh.
Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, Director General of the Assam Rifles, paid tribute to his fallen men and offered his deep condolences to their families.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killing and conveyed 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 would be arrested and punished.
Some reports said members of the Eastern Flank faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) carried out the attack. The NSCN is also known as the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, which has been part of a ceasefire agreement since July 1997.
In a statement, the NSCN’s “information ministry” trashed the existence of such a faction and said it was “neither involved in nor had any knowledge” of the ambush. “The organisation remains firmly committed to the ceasefire agreement with the government of India and continues to uphold its responsibilities under the agreed ground rules,” the group said.
The NSCN further said it would never resort to any action that could undermine, derail, or sabotage the ongoing “Indo-Naga” political negotiations.
Published – July 06, 2026 09:14 pm IST
