New Delhi: The security establishment in New Delhi was certainly upset by the ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur in Manipur that claimed seven personnel, including the lives of the commanding officer and his wife and nine-year-old son.
On Thursday (November 18), amid growing concerns over the attack, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the probe into the case would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Addressing an annual award presentation ceremony of the Manipur State Award for Literature-2020, the Chief Minister said that the case would be handed over to the NIA to bring out "details" and the identity of the perpetrators of the attack.
Many, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Manipur CM N Biren Singh and others, condemned the attack as a "cowardly" act.
Targeting women and children left the two insurgent groups, PLA Manipur and the little known Manipur Naga People's Front, embarrassed. The PLA also issued a statement saying they were unaware that the commandant's wife and son were also travelling.
Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife and 9-year-old son and four jawans were killed when the convoy was attacked by militants at Behiang in Churachandpur district of Manipur last Saturday, November 13. Six jawans had sustained injuries.
"This ambush was uncalled for at a time when the peace talks with the Naga groups is at an advanced stage and the centre has shown willingness to bring in peace and development in the entire northeast," a source said.
Sources say the security agencies are probing various angles and suspect that some other groups assisted the PLA with operational nexus.
"Strongly condemn the attack on the Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur. I pay homage to those soldiers and family members who have been martyred today. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten," the Prime Minister had tweeted.
Security forces also later recovered a large cache of powerful IEDs fitted into mobile handsets from the spot.
In October, the killing of popular Zeliangrong Naga leader Athuan Abonmai near Pallong village under Tamei sub-division in Tamenglong district of Manipur was also handed over to the NIA.
Athuan Abonmai, former president of Zeliangrong Baudi, was killed on September 22.
Section 16/17 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, were also added in the Abonmai murder case as the accused persons and their associates were allegedly raising funds for terror activities and disturbing the peace and tranquillity.
Manipur goes to the polls in February-March next year, along with UP, Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand. The BJP-led coalition regime has been in power in the state since 2017.
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