Imphal: An Assam Rifles personnel was killed and four others were injured after suspected insurgents ambushed a routine patrol near the India-Myanmar border in Changlang district on Tuesday morning.
The attack took place around 6:30 am near Nampong Nallah, where work related to border fencing is currently underway.
The Yung Aung faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K YA), a Myanmar-based group outside the ceasefire framework with the Centre, and the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the political wing of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army (PLA), claimed responsibility for the attack.
The deceased personnel was identified as 42-year-old Havildar Jangkhokai Kuki. Following the ambush, security forces launched extensive search and area-domination operations along the frontier to locate those responsible for the attack.
In a joint statement, the two groups claimed that the operation was carried out in opposition to infrastructure development along the India-Myanmar border. The NSCN-K YA faction has previously opposed the proposed fencing of the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border and had claimed responsibility for a similar attack on security personnel along the Namgoi-Pangsau road in March.
Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, along with officers and personnel of the force, paid tribute to Havildar Kuki and expressed condolences to his family, honouring his service and sacrifice in the line of duty.