Manipur police have arrested the prime accused in the September 19 ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy, which claimed the lives of two personnel, a senior officer said on Wednesday. The operation also led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition reportedly used in the attack.
Director General of Police, Manipur, Rajiv Singh, said, “On receipt of specific information about the presence of armed militants in the Kameng area, a team of district police Imphal West, Bishnupur, 33 AR and other security forces launched a special operation on September 24 at about 1 am. During the operation, one person, namely Khomdram Ojit Singh@ Keilal (47) was apprehended. He admitted he is a bailed-out member of PLA. He was directly involved in the ambush.”
The ambush on September 19 targeted an Assam Rifles convoy near Imphal, resulting in the death of two personnel and injuries to five others. The attack, which involved a coordinated assault by a group of armed men, highlighted ongoing security challenges in the region, where insurgent groups have been active for decades.
Investigators said the recovered cache included rifles, ammunition, and explosives, suggesting the militants had prepared for a sustained attack. “Raids are underway to arrest the other culprits involved in the ambush,” the DGP added, noting that the investigation is continuing to uncover the broader network behind the assault.
Also read: Assam Rifles vehicle ambushed in Manipur: 2 jawans killed, several injured
The insurgency in Manipur has long been linked to demands for autonomy and separatism, with multiple groups operating across the state. Despite intensified counter-insurgency operations by central and state forces, attacks on security personnel have periodically escalated.
Security analysts have observed that the September 19 ambush appeared to be a tactical operation, signalling that militants were adapting their methods to target convoys in more vulnerable areas. Authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance along key routes and are keeping close watch on areas bordering Assam and Nagaland, which have previously served as transit points for militant groups. Multiple teams are engaged in tracking down remaining suspects, while digital and physical evidence from the ambush site is being analysed.
“This arrest is a significant step in our ongoing operations against insurgent elements in Manipur,” a police official said. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of security forces and civilians alike and to dismantling the networks responsible for such attacks.”
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