Despite the sacrifice of lives of three of its troopers in Manipur, the Assam Rifles remained committed to the security of the nation and would continue to uphold its ideals in its pursuit to defeat secessionist forces, a defence spokesman said on July 31.
Three Assam Rifles troopers were killed while five others were injured in an ambush by an insurgent group near the India-Myanmar border in Chandel area in Manipur on July 29 night.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on July 31 that the state government would not remain quiet but “hunt down the perpetrators” involved in the militant attack that killed three Assam Rifles personnel.
Defence spokesperson Lt. Col. P Khongsai said the martyred soldiers hailing from Manipur, Nagaland and Assam truly represented the idea of unity in diversity – “the strength of our nation and the Assam Rifles”.
He said that to honour the supreme sacrifice made by Havildar (GD) Pranay Kalita, Rifleman (GD) Methna Konyak and Rifleman (GD) Ratan Salam of the Assam Rifles, who laid down their lives in the line of duty in Manipur, a wreath-laying ceremony with full military honours was organised at Tulihal airport in Imphal on July 31.
Havildar (GD) Pranay Kalita, a resident of Assam’s Barpeta district, is survived by his wife and two daughters, while Rifleman (GD) Methna Konyak is a resident of Mon district in Nagaland and is survived by his wife and daughter.
Rifleman Ratan Salam is a resident of Manipur’s Kakching Makha Leikai area and he has left behind his wife and two sons.
“The nation salutes their supreme sacrifice made in the highest traditions of the force in service of the nation. In this hour of grief, Assam Rifles stands firm in its solemn commitment to ensure the welfare of the families of the fallen soldiers,” a defence release said.
