In one of the deadliest confrontations in recent times, at least 10 militants were killed in an intense gunfight with the Assam Rifles near the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Chandel district on Wednesday. The encounter, which erupted near New Samtal village in Khengjoy tehsil, is part of a wider crackdown on insurgent activity along the international border, officials confirmed. The operation was launched by a unit under the Indian Army’s Spear Corps following specific intelligence inputs about the movement of armed militants in the remote hilly terrain. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, Assam Rifles troops moved into position in the early hours of May 14. According to the Army’s Eastern Command, as the forces approached the suspected area, they came under sudden fire from armed insurgents. The troops immediately took tactical positions and responded with controlled fire. The gun battle lasted for several hours, and at the end of the engagement, 10 militants were found dead. A substantial cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the site.
“During the operation, the troops were fired upon by suspected cadres to which they quickly reacted, redeployed, and retaliated in a calibrated and measured manner. In the ensuing firefight, 10 cadres were neutralised,” read a statement issued by the Eastern Command on X (formerly Twitter). Though the identities and affiliations of the deceased militants are yet to be confirmed, the region has seen the presence of various insurgent groups operating with cross-border support. The Army has not ruled out the possibility of more armed elements hiding in the dense forest areas, and the combing operation remains ongoing.
Chandel, located in Manipur’s southern region and sharing a porous border with Myanmar, has long been a strategic hotspot for insurgent activity. With its difficult terrain and limited road access, the area often serves as a corridor for armed militants sneaking in and out of Indian territory. Security has been intensified in the adjoining regions, and additional reinforcements have been rushed in as part of the ongoing search and containment efforts. “The situation remains fluid. Our forces are exercising maximum caution while conducting area domination to ensure the safety of locals and complete neutralization of hostile elements,” a senior defence official said on condition of anonymity.
