NSCN-K ambush claims 4 Assam Rifles jawans

GUWAHATI: At least four jawans from the 40th Battalion of Assam Rifles and the Territorial Army were killed in an ambush by suspected National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) militants in Nagaland's Mon district, near the India-Myanmar border, on Sunday. Six other jawans are reported to have been injured in the ambush, two of whom are reported to be in critical condition.

Nagaland Police said Assam Rifles has not provided the exact number of casualty, but information from multiple sources suggests the toll could be anywhere between two and four. Assam Rifles is trying to ascertain the exact number of casualty, police added.

"There are reports of an encounter around 2.30pm on Sunday. The Khaplang faction of NSCN is suspected to be behind the attack on the Assam Rifles contingent," superintendent of police of Mon district Vechipa Vise said.

The incident took place at Aboi, 35 km from the district headquarters, when the jawans were going to fetch water from a river between Aboi and Mohung. The militants lobbed hand grenades at the party, before they started firing. The jawans retaliated. The exchange of fire continued for about 30 minutes.

"So far, there is confirmation of casualties on the Assam Rifles side while two of the six injured jawans are critical. There is no word on what damage has been incurred on the militants' side. The dead and the injured were airlifted by an army chopper to Jorhat in Assam for medical aid," a defence source said. Nagaland Police, however, said the militant side also suffered casualty and they are trying to corroborate the toll.

This is the second time that Assam Rifles jawans have been targeted in the state while they were out to fetch water. In May 2015, eight jawans of 23rd Assam Rifles were killed and six others injured in an ambush by suspected NSCN (K) militants, also in the Mon district of Nagaland near Changlangsu.

The NSCN (K), which is based in Myanmar, pulled out of a 15-year-long ceasefire agreement with the Centre three years ago. On April 2 last year, three army jawans were killed and three others wounded when NSCN (K) ambushed an Army convoy in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district.