2 jawans killed in Manipur ambush

At least two Assam Rifles personnel were killed and five others injured after gunmen ambushed a paramilitary vehicle in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Friday, marking the first targeted attack on security forces in the strife-torn state in over a year.

- Thomas Ngangom and Prawesh Lama

According to officials, a convoy was moving from Imphal West to Bishnupur — a distance of roughly 25km—along NH2 when it was attacked in the Nambol Sabal Leikai area of the district, around 2km from its destination.

"The column was ambushed by unidentified terrorists on the highway. In the ensuing action, two brave soldiers of Assam Rifles lost their lives who were evacuated to RIMS and are currently stable," the force said in an official statement.

The deceased personnel were identified as Naik Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap.

Bishnupur, a Meitei-dominated valley district, shares borders with the hill district of Churachandpur, where tribals are in the majority. There have been ongoing protests in the valley areas against the Assam Rifles, with Meitei residents accusing them of bias, a charge denied by the force.

An officer familiar with the incident said the attack occurred around 6 pm. "The militants first fired at the tyres of the vehicle to immobilise it and then opened heavy fire before fleeing," the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.