At Least 10 Militants Killed in Gunfight with Assam Rifles Near Indo-Myanmar Border in Manipur

At Least 10 Militants Killed in Gunfight with Assam Rifles Near Indo-Myanmar Border in Manipur

Manipur, India – May 152025

At least 10 militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with the Assam Rifles near the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Chandel district on Wednesday, according to official reports. The operation, which began on Tuesday, is still ongoing.

According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), the firefight occurred near New Samtal village in the Khengjoy subdivision of Chandel district. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a unit of the Assam Rifles under the command of the Spear Corps launched an operation on May 14, 2025.

During the operation, the troops came under fire from suspected armed militants. In response, the soldiers quickly regrouped and launched a precise and controlled counterattack. The exchange of fire led to the deaths of at least 10 militants, and a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the site.

The Indian Army’s Eastern Command confirmed the incident via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating:

“Based on specific intelligence inputs, a unit of Assam Rifles launched an operation near New Samtal village in Chandel district on May 14. During the operation, troops came under fire from insurgents and responded with accurate retaliatory fire. Ten militants were neutralized, and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered.”

This encounter comes in the backdrop of ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, which has claimed the lives of over 260 people and displaced more than 60,000 since violence erupted in May 2023. The conflict primarily involves the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the tribal Kuki-Zo communities in the surrounding hill districts.

The violence began after a court order proposed granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis, a move that triggered widespread protests and clashes across the state.