Rebel Attack in India Kills Six, Injures Eight
A rebel ambush in Manipur, India on September 19, 2025, killed two Assam Rifles soldiers and injured five others, intensifying security concerns ahead of a planned bandh by valley-based insurgent groups.
Two Assam Rifles personnel were killed and five others injured in a rebel ambush on the evening of September 19, 2025, in Manipur’s Bishnupur district. The attack occurred near Nambol Sabal Leikai, approximately 15 kilometers from Imphal, as a convoy of security personnel was traveling along National Highway-2. Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a mini truck carrying the soldiers, resulting in immediate casualties. The injured were swiftly evacuated to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, where their conditions were reported as stable. No insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and security forces have launched search operations in the area to apprehend those involved.
Security Response and Official Condemnation
The ambush took place in a denotified zone, complicating the operational scope for security forces. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla condemned the attack, expressing deep grief and extending condolences to the families of the deceased while assuring that authorities would respond firmly to restore peace. Former Chief Minister N Biren Singh visited the injured soldiers and reiterated the commitment of security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Director General of Assam Rifles, Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, emphasizing their sacrifice in the line of duty.
Context: Rising Tensions and Insurgency
The incident comes just days before a bandh called by valley-based rebel groups protesting the anniversary of Manipur’s merger agreement with India on September 21, 1949. The region has experienced heightened tensions and an uptick in armed activity, with several militants arrested in recent months. The attack also follows months of ethnic clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, which led to the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur earlier this year. The banned Meitei insurgent group, Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), is suspected of involvement, though no official claim has been made.
Ongoing Challenges and Calls for Peace
The ambush underscores the fragile security environment in Manipur, where multiple insurgent groups remain active and ethnic divisions periodically erupt into violence. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remains in force across most of the state, except for certain denotified areas, further complicating law enforcement efforts. Local media and officials have called for a balanced approach that combines robust security measures with dialogue and reconciliation to address the underlying grievances fueling the insurgency.
The attack has reignited concerns about the safety of security personnel and civilians in Manipur, highlighting the urgent need for sustained peace-building efforts and vigilant security operations.