Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland- Khaplan claims responsibility for Manipur attack

The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland- Khaplan (NSCN-K) has claimed responsibility for Manipur ambush that took place on Thursday.

The Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag has left for Imphal to take control over the situation.

In the worst such attack in two decades, insurgents on Thursday ambushed a military convoy in Manipur's Chandel district killing at least 18 army personnel and injuring 11 others. On Friday, the NSCN-K has claimed responsibility for this attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as mindless and very distressing. "Today's mindless attack in Manipur is very distressing. I bow to each and every soldier who has sacrificed his life for the Nation," he tweeted.

A team of 6 Dogra Regiment was on a road opening patrol (ROP) as part of its daily routine along Tengnoupal-New Samtal road, about 80 km from Imphal, when it was attacked by an unidentified insurgent outfit first with a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED), a police official said here. After the IED blast, the insurgents resorted to heavy firing at the convoy of four Army vehicles with RPGs and automatic weapons, Army sources said.

"18 armymen were killed and 11 injured in the attack," Army spokesman Col Rohan Anand said in Delhi. Earlier, Anand had put the number of dead at 20. A suspected insurgent was also killed, police said. The attack occurred at around 9 AM when the convoy reached a place between Paralong and Charong villages.