Colonel Viplav Tripathy, his wife and son who were killed in a terrorist attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur were natives of Chhattisgarh, said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday.
"One Chhattisgarh officer martyred in Manipur attack. His sacrifice will not go in vain. I extend my condolences to the family," Baghel told reporters here.
Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said, "Received the sad news of the martyrdom of our brave soldiers in the Maoist attack in Manipur. Colonel Viplab Tripathi, son of Subhash Tripathi, editor of Dainik Bayar Raigarh and senior journalist Subhash Tripathi, daughter-in-law Anuja Tripathi and five-year-old grandson Abir Tripathi were also martyred in this attack."
The Commanding Officer (CO) of 46 Assam Rifles Colonel Viplav Tripathy, his wife and son and four soldiers were killed in an ambush by terrorists near the India-Myanmar border in Manipur today.
Four other soldiers sustained injuries in the attack in Churachandpur district in Manipur, according to the Indian Army. The incident took place around 10 am on Saturday near S Sehken village under Behiang police station.
The insurgents ambushed a convoy of Assam Rifles around 11 am leading to the mass killing of the five Assam Rifles personnel, including the Colonel and his family, said an official statement of Director General, Assam Rifles.
"Five soldiers including Col Viplav Tripathi Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty," mentioned the statement.
Police said the incident took place near Sehken village as the heavily armed militants fired upon the convoy of the Assam Rifles Colonel killing him, his wife, their son and three Quick Reaction Team jawans on the spot.
Terrorists attacked the convoy when the Colonel of the 46 Battalion of the Assam Rifles was going to supervise a civic action programme in the Churachandpur, bordering Myanmar.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack.
"The cowardly attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur, Manipur is extremely painful and condemnable. The nation has lost five brave soldiers including CO 46 AR and two family members. My condolences to the bereaved families. The perpetrators will be brought to justice soon," tweeted the Defence Minister.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh also condemned the attack on Assam Riffle's convoy. Taking to Twitter, he said, "Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on a convoy of 46 AR which has reportedly killed a few personnel including the CO and his family at Churachandpur today. The State forces and Paramilitary are already on their job to track down the militants. The perpetrators will be brought to justice."
( With inputs from ANI )
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