Assam Rifles personnel killed in Naga group ambush in Manipur's Ukhrul
Synopsis
Two Assam Rifles soldiers — Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh — were killed in a suspected Naga armed group ambush near Nungshang Kong Bridge in Manipur's Ukhrul district on 6 July. Gunfire and explosions continued for nearly two hours, blocking police access to the site. The attack is the latest blow to security in a state already under severe strain.
Key Takeaways
Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh of the Assam Rifles were killed on 6 July in an ambush near Nungshang Kong Bridge, Ukhrul, Manipur .
The attack was carried out by a suspected Naga armed group , approximately 16–17 km from the Ukhrul district headquarters.
Heavy gunfire and explosions reportedly continued for nearly two hours , preventing police from reaching the site.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh condemned the attack and vowed legal action against the perpetrators.
DG Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera paid tribute to the slain soldiers and pledged support to their families.
The incident comes amid heightened security operations across Manipur's valley and hill districts.
Two Assam Rifles personnel — Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh — were killed on Monday, 6 July after a suspected Naga armed group ambushed a paramilitary convoy near Nungshang Kong Bridge in Ukhrul district, Manipur, according to officials. The attack occurred approximately 16 km east of the Ukhrul Police Station, with heavy gunfire and repeated explosions reportedly continuing for nearly two hours.
How the Attack Unfolded
A senior police official in Imphal said an Assam Rifles patrol party was ambushed by unidentified Naga armed assailants near the Nungshang Kong Bridge, around 17 km from the Ukhrul district headquarters, on Monday afternoon. Both personnel sustained critical injuries and later succumbed.
An intermittent exchange of fire reportedly continued for several hours after the initial attack, preventing a police team from Ukhrul Police Station from reaching the site. According to reports quoting local villagers, farmers working in nearby paddy fields fled to safety as the firing intensified, while panic spread across surrounding villages. The exact total number of casualties and the full identity of the attackers could not be immediately confirmed, officials said.
Condemnation from State Leadership
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a 'barbaric act of violence' and conveying his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. 'The perpetrators responsible for this brutal murder will be identified, arrested and punished in accordance with the law of the land,' the Chief Minister said in a statement.
Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh said he was 'deeply saddened by the unfortunate ambush on the convoy of the 40 Assam Rifles at Nungshang Kong, Ukhrul.' He added that such incidents 'only disrupt the peace and harmony that the people of the state collectively aspire to uphold,' and expressed confidence that security forces would act strictly within the law.
Assam Rifles Pays Tribute
Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera also condemned the attack. In a social media tribute, the Assam Rifles said: 'Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General, Assam Rifles, and All Ranks of Assam Rifles pay solemn tribute to WO Balwant Singh and Hav Chandra Mohan Singh, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Manipur today and offer deep condolences to the families of our Brave Soldiers. DG Assam Rifles and All Ranks of Assam Rifles stand firmly with the bereaved families.'
Broader Security Context
This attack comes amid intensified security operations across Manipur, where central and state security forces have been maintaining heightened vigilance in both valley and hill districts to curb militant activities and restore normalcy. Notably, Ukhrul district — a predominantly Naga-inhabited hill district bordering Nagaland and Myanmar — has historically seen periodic armed group activity, and this incident underscores the persistent security challenges facing the region. The killings are likely to further strain inter-community relations at a time when Manipur is already navigating a prolonged period of ethnic tension.
Security forces have launched operations to identify and apprehend those responsible. Further details are expected as access to the site is restored.
Point of View
And armed group activity there follows a separate, older logic tied to unresolved political negotiations between Delhi and Naga factions. The Centre's preoccupation with the valley has arguably left the hill districts under-resourced and under-watched. Two soldiers are dead, access to the site was blocked for hours, and the attackers' identity remains unconfirmed — that gap between the attack and accountability is itself a story about the state of governance in Manipur's hills.
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 near Nungshang Kong Bridge in Ukhrul district, Manipur, on 6 July and succumbed to critical injuries sustained in the attack.
Where did the Manipur Assam Rifles ambush take place?
The ambush took place near Nungshang Kong Bridge in Ukhrul district, Manipur, approximately 16–17 km from the Ukhrul Police Station and district headquarters. The area borders Nagaland and Myanmar.
Which group is suspected of carrying out the attack?
A suspected Naga armed group is believed to have carried out the ambush, according to officials. However, the exact identity of the attackers had not been officially confirmed as of Monday, as an exchange of fire prevented police from accessing the site.
What was the government's response to the attack?
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the attack as a 'barbaric act of violence' and vowed that perpetrators would be identified, arrested, and punished. Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh and DG Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera also condemned the attack and pledged firm action.
What is the broader security situation in Manipur?
Manipur has been under heightened security operations, with central and state forces maintaining vigilance across both valley and hill districts to curb militant activities and restore normalcy. The Ukhrul ambush highlights that armed group threats persist in the hill districts alongside the ongoing ethnic tensions in the valley.
