Unidentified gunmen attack Assam Rifles truck; two jawans martyred

IMPHAL: Two Assam Rifles jawans were martyred and at least four others were injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire on their truck. The attack targeted a vehicle of the 33 Assam Rifles battalion. The incident took place at Nambol Sabal Leikai in Bishnupur district of Manipur, about 8 km from Imphal airport.

"This is the first major attack against central forces in Manipur in the past year," a police officer said. The attack comes just days after some extremist groups announced a bandh opposing the implementation of the 1949 Manipur Merger Agreement. Police have launched a probe into the incident. Local authorities have increased patrolling and tightened checks at checkpoints in the region.