Manipur ambush manhunt: Day 2 as NSCN-IM denies killing 2 Assam Rifles men
Synopsis
Two Assam Rifles soldiers were killed in a suspected Naga group ambush on NH-2 in Manipur's Ukhrul district, triggering a massive two-day joint manhunt. The NSCN-IM's swift denial and reaffirmation of the ceasefire raises a pointed question: if not them, who — and does it threaten the Indo-Naga peace process at a critical juncture?
Key Takeaways
Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh of the Assam Rifles were killed in a suspected Naga armed group ambush at Nungshang Kong on NH-2 in Ukhrul district, Manipur .
A large-scale joint manhunt by Central and state forces entered its second day on Tuesday , with intensive operations to neutralise the perpetrators.
The NSCN-IM categorically denied involvement, stating it had 'neither involvement in nor knowledge of' the attack, and reaffirmed its ceasefire commitment.
Security forces separately recovered an IED and four mortar shells in Kangpokpi district and arrested four militant cadres from Imphal East and Kakching .
Two juvenile KNF cadres were apprehended in Churachandpur , with 77 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition seized.
113 nakas and checkpoints are active across Manipur's valley and hill districts as part of the security crackdown.
A large-scale joint manhunt by Central and state security forces entered its second consecutive day on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, as personnel pressed deeper into Manipur's Ukhrul district to track down those responsible for the killing of two Assam Rifles soldiers — Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh — in a deadly ambush on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2). The dominant Naga insurgent outfit, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), has categorically denied any role in the attack.
The Ambush: What Happened
The two personnel were killed on Monday afternoon when a suspected Naga armed group ambushed an Assam Rifles vehicle at Nungshang Kong, a stretch along NH-2 in the trouble-torn Ukhrul district. The attack came just four days after security forces destroyed two major militant bunkers — at Thoyee village (Mahadev Top) and Jalenbung village under the Litan police station limits in the same district — as part of sustained counter-insurgency operations.
A senior police official confirmed that intensive operations are 'underway to neutralise the militants responsible for the killing' of the two soldiers, without naming a specific group.
NSCN-IM Denies Involvement, Reaffirms Ceasefire Commitment
In a formal statement, the NSCN-IM said it was 'neither involved in nor had any knowledge of the said incident.' The group, which has maintained a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India as part of the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process, stressed that it would 'never resort to any action that could undermine, derail or sabotage the ongoing Indo-Naga political negotiations.'
The outfit further condemned all activities detrimental to the peace process, urging stakeholders to 'exercise restraint and responsibility to ensure that the hard-earned progress made towards a peaceful resolution is not jeopardised by acts capable of creating mistrust and instability.'
Parallel Operations Across Manipur
Separately, Manipur Police personnel conducting an area domination exercise at Chiru village under Kangchup police station in Kangpokpi district recovered one Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and four locally made mortar shells. Security forces also arrested four cadres belonging to different militant outfits from Imphal East and Kakching districts, recovering arms and ammunition from their possession.
In a separate operation in Churachandpur district, security forces apprehended two juvenile active cadres of the Kuki National Front (KNF) from the Geljang area and seized 77 rounds of 5.56 mm live ammunition from them.
Security Grid Across the State
Authorities have established 113 nakas and checkpoints across both valley and hill districts to monitor the movement of insurgent elements and intercept illegal arms, explosives, and contraband. Security forces are also providing convoy escorts along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), a critical supply artery, to ensure the uninterrupted movement of essential commodities.
With the identity of the attackers still unconfirmed and the manhunt ongoing, the coming days will test both the operational reach of security forces and the resilience of the fragile Indo-Naga peace framework.
Point of View
Formal denial is strategically significant — the group has every incentive to protect a peace process that has been in motion for decades, and a public disavowal limits the risk of collective blame. But the denial also underscores a more troubling reality: Manipur's insurgency landscape is fragmented enough that a splinter or rival faction can trigger a security crisis without the dominant group's sanction. The ambush, coming just four days after bunker destructions in the same district, suggests a reactive rather than random escalation. Security forces face the dual challenge of pursuing an unidentified attacker while avoiding actions that could destabilise the broader ceasefire architecture — a balance that grows harder with every body count.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Assam Rifles personnel killed in the Manipur ambush?
The two soldiers killed were Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh of the Assam Rifles. They were ambushed by a suspected Naga armed group at Nungshang Kong on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in Ukhrul district, Manipur, on Monday afternoon.
Did the NSCN-IM carry out the Ukhrul ambush?
The NSCN-IM has categorically denied any involvement, stating it had 'neither involvement in nor knowledge of' the attack. The group reaffirmed its ceasefire agreement with the Government of India and condemned actions that could derail the Indo-Naga peace process.
What is the current status of the manhunt in Manipur?
As of Tuesday, 8 July 2025, joint Central and state security forces are conducting intensive operations in Ukhrul district to neutralise the perpetrators. A senior police official confirmed that operations are actively underway, though no arrests directly linked to the ambush have been announced.
What other security operations are underway in Manipur?
Separately, security forces recovered an IED and four mortar shells in Kangpokpi district, arrested four militant cadres in Imphal East and Kakching, and apprehended two juvenile KNF cadres in Churachandpur with 77 rounds of ammunition. Authorities have also set up 113 nakas and checkpoints statewide.
What is the Indo-Naga peace process and why does this ambush matter for it?
The Indo-Naga peace process refers to ongoing political negotiations between the Government of India and Naga insurgent groups, underpinned by a ceasefire agreement with the NSCN-IM. The Ukhrul ambush matters because it risks creating mistrust between the parties — a concern the NSCN-IM itself flagged in its denial statement, urging all stakeholders to exercise restraint.
