On the morning of November 13, Colonel Viplav Tripathi, 41; his wife Anuja, 33; and their eight-year-old son Abeer set off in a black Mahindra Bolero jeep for Manipur’s Churachandpur district. The family was driving back after a night’s stay at Behiang T village, located a few kilometres from the 1,643-km-long Myanmar border that is guarded by the Assam Rifles. Colonel Tripathi, the commanding officer of the 46th battalion of Assam Rifles, and his family were accompanied by around a dozen armed troopers in three Maruti Gypsies. They were returning from a community outreach programme at the village— officers usually make these visits with their families.
The small convoy had just left the village when multiple explosions ripped through the narrow road. Militants lying in wait in the dense jungle fired at the vehicles with automatic guns and rifle grenades. When the firing stopped a few minutes later, Colonel Tripathi and his family lay dead. Four other soldiers were killed and six seriously wounded.
In a statement released later that day, two militant outfits—the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF)—claimed responsibility for the attack. Manipur, where at least 40 banned underground outfits operate, has witnessed one of India’s longest-running insurgencies. Yet, for the past six years, militant groups have not carried out such daring attacks. In the last big strike, on June 4, 2015, separatists of the United Liberation Front of Western Southeast Asia (ULFWSA) had ambushed an Indian Army convoy in Chandel district, killing 18 soldiers.
INSURGENCY IN MANIPUR HAS SEEN A SPIKE IN 2021, WITH 162 TERROR INCIDENTS AND 24 DEATHS REPORTED SO FAR
This story is from the November 29, 2021 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 29, 2021 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated