Assam Rifles ambush: Manipur Guv, CM pay homage as manhunt enters Day 3
Synopsis
Two Assam Rifles soldiers ambushed and killed on NH-2 in Ukhrul, Manipur — and the attackers remain unidentified three days on. With the NSCN-IM denying involvement, the question of who carried out the strike on a highway corridor linking Imphal to Dimapur is now at the centre of a widening joint security operation.
Key Takeaways
Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh of the Assam Rifles were killed in an ambush at Nungshang Kong on the Imphal-Dimapur NH-2 in Ukhrul district on Monday, 7 July .
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh laid wreaths at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport on 8 July before the bodies were flown home.
Joint Central and state security forces entered Day 3 of search operations across Ukhrul district and adjoining areas on Wednesday.
The attack came just four days after security forces destroyed two militant bunkers at Thoyee village and Jalenbung village in the same district.
The NSCN-IM categorically denied involvement, reaffirming its commitment to the ceasefire and the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process .
No group has been officially identified as responsible for the ambush as of 8 July .
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday, 8 July paid their last respects to Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh — the two Assam Rifles personnel killed in a militant ambush in Ukhrul district — as a massive joint security operation to hunt down the attackers entered its third consecutive day.
The Ambush That Triggered the Crisis
The two soldiers were killed on Monday afternoon when a suspected Naga armed group ambushed an Assam Rifles vehicle at Nungshang Kong along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in Ukhrul district. The attack struck a region already under sustained counter-insurgency pressure, coming just four days after security forces had destroyed two major militant bunkers at Thoyee village (Mahadev Top) and Jalenbung village under the Litan police station limits in the same district.
Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Imphal Airport
Governor Bhalla and Chief Minister Khemchand Singh laid wreaths on the mortal remains of the two soldiers at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal, before their bodies were flown to their native places for the last rites. A ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to the slain personnel, with senior officers of the Army, Assam Rifles, and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) standing alongside the state leadership.
Among those present were Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh, several MLAs, Security Advisor to the Manipur government Kuldiep Singh, 3 Corps Commander Lt Gen Girish Kalia, and Inspector General of Assam Rifles, South, Maj Gen Gaurav Sharma, along with other senior civil, police, and military officials.
Search Operations on Day Three
Coordinated joint operations by Central and state security forces continued across vulnerable areas of Ukhrul district and adjoining regions on Wednesday, according to a senior police official. The search is focused on identifying and apprehending those responsible for the attack. The scale of the operation reflects the strategic sensitivity of the NH-2 corridor, which links Imphal to Dimapur and has historically been a flashpoint for insurgent activity.
NSCN-IM Denies Involvement
The National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), the dominant Naga insurgent group, categorically denied any role in the ambush. In an official statement, the organisation said it was 'neither involved in nor had any knowledge of the said incident.' The group added: 'The organisation remains firmly committed to the Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India and continues to uphold its responsibilities under the agreed ground rules. The NSCN reiterates that it shall never resort to any action that could undermine, derail or sabotage the ongoing Indo-Naga political negotiations.'
The denial leaves the identity of the perpetrators unconfirmed as of Wednesday. Security agencies have not yet publicly attributed the attack to any specific outfit. The incident adds fresh strain to the already fragile security environment in Manipur, which has witnessed prolonged ethnic conflict since May 2023.
Point of View
With multiple splinter factions operating outside the peace framework. The timing of the ambush — just four days after security forces dismantled two militant bunkers in the same district — suggests a possible retaliatory dynamic that authorities have not yet addressed publicly. With the NH-2 corridor serving as a critical supply artery for Manipur, any sustained targeting of this route carries consequences well beyond a single incident.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Assam Rifles soldiers killed in the Ukhrul ambush?
The two soldiers killed were Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh, both of the Assam Rifles. They were killed when a suspected Naga armed group ambushed their vehicle at Nungshang Kong on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in Ukhrul district on Monday, 7 July.
What is the current status of the search operation in Ukhrul?
As of Wednesday, 8 July, joint operations by Central and state security forces had entered their third consecutive day. Coordinated searches are being carried out across vulnerable areas of Ukhrul district and adjoining regions to identify and apprehend those responsible for the ambush, according to a senior police official.
Has any group claimed responsibility for the Ukhrul ambush?
No group has officially claimed responsibility as of 8 July. The NSCN-IM, the dominant Naga insurgent group, categorically denied involvement, stating it was 'neither involved in nor had any knowledge of the said incident' and reaffirming its commitment to the ceasefire with the Government of India.
What was the significance of the timing of the ambush?
The attack came just four days after security forces destroyed two major militant bunkers at Thoyee village and Jalenbung village in Ukhrul district, as part of sustained counter-insurgency operations. Analysts note the proximity in timing, though authorities have not publicly confirmed a retaliatory link.
Who attended the wreath-laying ceremony for the slain soldiers?
The ceremony at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal was attended by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, 3 Corps Commander Lt Gen Girish Kalia, IG Assam Rifles (South) Maj Gen Gaurav Sharma, several MLAs, and senior civil, police, and military officials.
