New Delhi: A Colonel of the Indian Army, his wife and eight-year-old son, and four Assam Rifles soldiers were killed in an attack in Manipur’s Churachandpur on Saturday, officials said.
Colonel Viplav Tripathi was the Commanding Officer of the 46 Assam Rifles.
The officials said four others sustained injuries in the attack that happened around 3 km from Deheng locality.
Strongly condemning the attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Modi tweeted, “Strongly condemn the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur. I pay homage to those soldiers and family members who have been martyred today. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of sadness.”
The convoy was targeted by suspected militants of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), a militant group in Manipur demanding a separate homeland.
Describing it as a cowardly attack, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the perpetrators will be brought to justice soon.
“The cowardly attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur is extremely painful & condemnable. The nation has lost 5 brave soldiers including CO 46 AR and two family members,” he tweeted.
“My condolences to the bereaved families. The perpetrators will be brought to justice soon,” Singh said.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the state forces and paramilitary troops are already on their job to track down the militants.
“The perpetrators will be brought to justice,” the chief minister said on Twitter.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Modi government over the attack, alleging the incident “once again proves” that it is incapable of protecting the nation.
He also sent his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack.
“The terrorist attack on the army convoy in Manipur once again proves that the Modi government is not capable of protecting the nation. My condolences to the martyrs and condolences to their families. The nation will remember your sacrifice,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Other Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot and Jairam Ramesh, also condemned the attack and demanded action against those behind it.
“Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur in which five brave personnel and two family members lost their lives. Salute their martyrdom and extend sincere condolences to the bereaved families,” Rajasthan Chief Minister Gehlot said on Twitter.
“This is absolutely shocking and deeply saddening! Hope those responsible will be brought to justice soon,” said former union minister Jairam Ramesh.
