On 19 September 2025, as a Tata 407 vehicle of 33 Assam Rifles (AR) was travelling from its Patsoi base to its base in Nambol (a distance of 13.5 km) in Manipur, at about 5.50 pm, it came under intense fire at Nambol Sabal Leikai village from armed militants. In the ensuing action, two soldiers of 33 AR, Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh were killed. Five other soldiers were injured. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This attack on the AR vehicle came exactly six days after the visit of the Prime Minister. Incidentally, the PM had travelled on the same road during his visit to Manipur on 19 September 2025. Nambol Sabal Leikai comes under Bishnupur district, which is not under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Parenthetically, AFSPA is applicable in the entire state of Manipur, except in 13 Police Stations in the valley region, which includes Bishnupur district. The PM’s visit had brought much cheer to the people of all the communities of Manipur and it had ignited a ray of hope for restoration of normalcy, in the State. Some important issues regarding this ambush need deliberation.

First, the circumstances leading to the ambush itself. The Tata 407 vehicle was on a routine administrative duty in a denotified area. Denotified areas are areas that are considered ‘safe’ and where the presence of militants is unlikely. Without the........

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