New Delhi: An Assam Rifles havildar was killed and four other personnel injured after a patrol team came under suspected militant fire near the India-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district on Tuesday. The attack occurred near Nampong Nallah under Nampong Circle, where troops were patrolling close to ongoing border fencing work.
The incident took place at around 6.30am when personnel of 21 Assam Rifles were on patrol in the area. Preliminary information indicated that suspected militants opened fire on the team before withdrawing.
Assam Rifles identified the deceased as Havildar Jangkhokai Kuki, 42. The four injured personnel were evacuated for medical treatment, while officials had not released details of their condition.
Preliminary reports suggested possible involvement of cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang NSCN-K-YA (Yung Aung faction). However, security officials had not confirmed the identity of the attackers or attributed responsibility for the attack to any group.
Additional security forces were moved into the area after the firing and operations were launched to trace the attackers. The Changlang superintendent of police, Kirli Padu, said police were gathering further details about the incident.
The director general of Assam Rifles, Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, and all ranks of the force paid tribute to Kuki. In a post on X, Assam Rifles said he was killed in the line of duty in Changlang on September 29 and expressed condolences to his family.
Changlang shares a stretch of the India-Myanmar border where fencing work is underway amid continuing security concerns over cross-border insurgent movement. Security forces intensified surveillance and operations in the affected area following Tuesday’s attack.
The incident follows firing near Pangsau pass in Changlang in March, when official reports said an Assam Rifles soldier was injured after suspected NSCN-K-YA militants opened fire on troops involved in border fencing work. Security forces retaliated and launched search operations after the attackers withdrew.
Authorities have not established any link between the two incidents.
Search operations remained underway in the Nampong area as security forces sought to identify and trace those responsible for Tuesday’s attack. Further details on the circumstances of the firing and the identity of the attackers were awaited.