In a brazen assault that has reignited fears in Manipur’s volatile landscape, two soldiers from the Assam Rifles lost their lives, and five others suffered severe injuries during an ambush by suspected militants in Bishnupur district. The attack, which unfolded on the evening of September 19, 2025, marks the first direct strike against central security forces in the state since ethnic clashes erupted between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities in May 2023.
The incident occurred along National Highway-2 in the Nambol area, a stretch previously traversed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Churachandpur district on September 13—his inaugural trip to the strife-torn region since the violence began. Manipur, now under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, has seen a temporary easing of tensions, evidenced by the denotification of four police stations, including Nambol Sabal Leikai the precise site of the ambush under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in March 2023.
According to a senior government official speaking to The Hindu, the perpetrators remain unidentified, though suspicions point to the banned Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), a Meitei insurgent outfit based in Myanmar. Outlawed since 1979, the PLA advocates for Manipur’s secession from India. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault.
Eyewitness accounts and official briefings describe a swift and ruthless operation. A convoy vehicle carrying 12 Assam Rifles personnel en route to their Maibam post came under fire around 5:50 p.m. Three to four gunmen, concealed at a road bend, unleashed a barrage from AK-47 rifles. The soldiers had scant moments to respond, resulting in the immediate fatalities of Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap. The attackers reportedly escaped in a van, prompting an immediate manhunt.
The Assam Rifles, in an official statement, confirmed the timeline and details: the unit was navigating the built-up Nambol Sabal Leikai area under cover of dusk when the militants struck in this formerly denotified zone. The wounded were promptly airlifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, where they are reported stable. Notably, the affected unit had been engaged in flood relief efforts across Manipur in recent days, underscoring the multifaceted demands on these forces.
In a show of solidarity, former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh visited RIMS on September 19 to console the injured personnel. Meanwhile, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla issued a vehement condemnation, expressing deep sorrow to the families of the fallen soldiers. “The Governor extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the martyred soldiers, acknowledging their unwavering courage and dedication in protecting the nation,” read a Raj Bhavan statement. He also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and vowed that such “heinous acts of violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” pledging a firm commitment to restoring peace and stability.
As search operations intensify to apprehend the assailants, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent undercurrents threatening Manipur’s hard-won reprieve from conflict. With central forces bearing the brunt of renewed hostilities, questions loom over the security apparatus in these denotified pockets, even as the state grapples with its deeper ethnic divides.
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