Assam Rifles, under the Indian Army’s Spear Corps, neutralized 10 militants in a fierce gunfight in Manipur’s Chandel district on Wednesday. The ongoing operation near the Myanmar border has disrupted insurgent activities, with security forces recovering arms and ammunition. Details on the militants’ affiliations remain undisclosed.
BY PC Bureau
May 15, 2025 – In a significant counter-insurgency operation, the Assam Rifles gunned down 10 militants in a fierce gunfight near the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Chandel district on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The operation, which is still underway, has also led to the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunition, according to Indian Army officials.
The Assam Rifles unit, operating under the Spear Corps, launched the operation based on specific intelligence regarding the movement of armed cadres near New Samtal village in Khengjoy Tehsil, a remote area close to the porous 398-km-long India-Myanmar border. The encounter took place in Chandel, a tribal-majority hill district predominantly inhabited by the Naga community.
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According to a statement from the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, the operation began on May 14 and resulted in the neutralization of 10 suspected militants. “Acting on specific intelligence, the Assam Rifles unit under Spear Corps engaged the armed cadres, leading to a firefight,” the statement read. A significant number of weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site, though details about the specific types of arms have not been disclosed.
Acting on specific intelligence on movement of armed cadres nearby New Samtal village, Khengjoy Tehsil, #Chandel District near the #Indo_MyanmarBorder, #AssamRifles unit under #SpearCorps launched an operation on 14 May 2025.
During the operation,… pic.twitter.com/KLgyuRSg11
— EasternCommand_IA (@easterncomd) May 14, 2025
As of Thursday morning, the operation remains ongoing, with security forces continuing to scour the area for additional threats. Authorities have yet to confirm the identities or affiliations of the deceased militants, and efforts are underway to ascertain the group to which they belonged. “The operation is still on, and information on the identity and affiliation of those killed will follow as details emerge,” an official told news agency PTI.
The encounter comes amid heightened tensions in Manipur, which has been grappling with ethnic violence since May 2023. The conflict, primarily between the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo tribes in the hill areas, has claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people. Chandel district, with its strategic location along the Myanmar border, has often been a hotspot for insurgent activities due to its rugged terrain and proximity to cross-border routes used by militant groups.
The Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force tasked with counter-insurgency operations in Northeast India and guarding the Indo-Myanmar border, has been actively involved in maintaining security in the region. This operation marks one of the deadliest encounters in Manipur in recent months, underscoring the ongoing challenges of tackling insurgency in the state.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, with the central government intensifying efforts to dismantle insurgent networks. Security forces, including the Assam Rifles, Indian Army, and Manipur Police, have conducted multiple operations across the state, recovering weapons, explosives, and apprehending cadres of various proscribed outfits.
Local authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces as operations continue. The Indian Army’s Eastern Command, in a post on X, commended the Assam Rifles for their swift action, stating, “The operation reflects our commitment to ensuring peace and security in the region.”
