Imphal: Nearly five years after militants ambushed Assam Rifles Colonel Viplav Tripathi along with his wife, son and four soldiers in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, security forces have finally caught one of the prime accused behind the deadly attack.
On August 23, a joint team of the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police arrested Thiyam Boycha Singh alias “Balin” and held the self-styled captain of the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had placed a bounty of ₹4 lakh for people who would lead to his whereabouts.
Confirming the arrest, the Eastern Command of the Indian Army in a statement said that strengthening peace and security in Manipur, under the aegis of the Eastern Command Assam Rifles formation under Spear Corps in coordination with Manipur Police, conducted a joint intelligence-based operation in Thoubal District. “The successful operation reaffirms the resolve of security forces to dismantle insurgent networks and safeguard peace and stability in Manipur”, a senior army commander said.
Most wanted militants; Operation lasted 5 years
Balin was wanted for the last 5 years ever since the ambush on the Assam Rifles convoy. On November 13, 2021, militants ambushed the security convoy near Churachandpur, killing Colonel Tripathi, then commanding officer of the 46 Assam Rifles, his wife Anuja, their young son Abeer, and four Assam Rifles personnel. The attack shocked the nation, as it was the first time militants had targeted the family members of an army officer in the region. Two outfits, the PLA and the Manipur Naga People’s Front, had claimed responsibility for the ambush.
Sources in the Manipur police said that Balin had been on the run since the attack and was named as the third accused in the NIA case. Manipur police have taken the most wanted militant in their custody for further investigation. He will be taken into custody by NIA as he was named as a prime accused in the chargesheet filed by the investigating agency.
Security forces in the trouble-hit state believe that the arrest of the one of the prime accused of the deadly ambush will mark a significant breakthrough in the investigation. It will also send a clear message to the insurgency groups active in the state on the consequences of every violent activity.
