Two Assam Rifles Soldiers Gunned Down in Manipur Amid Escalating Ethnic Tensions

In a tragic incident, two soldiers from the Assam Rifles lost their lives in a gunfight with unidentified militants near Ukhrul town in Manipur on Monday. The conflict, which occurred around 2 PM, has raised alarm bells given the ongoing ethnic strife in the region. The deceased soldiers have been identified as Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar CM Singh, according to reports from local media.

The Assam Rifles confirmed that operations are ongoing to neutralize the militants involved in the ambush, although no group has yet stepped forward to claim responsibility for the attack. Ukhrul, predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga community, has been a flashpoint for violence, especially following the resurgence of conflicts between different ethnic groups in the area.

The tensions in Ukhrul trace back to February 7, when clashes erupted between members of the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki-Zo communities following an alleged assault. Since then, violence has claimed the lives of at least 25 individuals from both communities, highlighting a deepening divide in the district. The ongoing crisis in Manipur began in May 2023, when hostilities erupted between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities, resulting in over 260 fatalities and displacing more than 59,000 people.

The political backdrop is equally troubling. Former Chief Minister Biren Singh resigned in February 2025 amid accusations from Kuki-Zomi-Hmar factions that his government’s response to the violence was biased, fueling majoritarian sentiments. Following his resignation, Manipur was under President’s Rule for a year, until Yumnam Khemchand Singh took over as chief minister in February.

As the situation in Manipur continues to deteriorate, authorities are under pressure to restore peace and stability in a region that has been marred by ethnic violence for far too long. The death of the two Assam Rifles soldiers serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict that not only threatens lives but also the fragile fabric of communal harmony in the region.

Source: scroll.in