Lamka, September 20: Residents of Churachandpur district gathered on Saturday evening for a candlelight vigil and peaceful protest march to honor two Assam Rifles personnel killed in an ambush on Friday.
The march began around 6:30 PM from Public Ground, Hiangtam Lamka, and stretched nearly two kilometers before concluding at Peace Ground in Tuibong. Participants carried placards reading “We condemn the attack on Assam Rifles” and held photographs of the two slain soldiers as they walked in silence.
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In Churachandpur, the vigil drew people from across communities and organisations, including the Kuki and Zomi Women’s Associations, the Kuki Students’ Organisation, the Zomi Students’ Federation, as well as retired Assam Rifles and Army personnel. Their presence underscored what many described as a shared respect for the security forces and a rejection of violence.
The ambush, which occurred on September 19 in Nambol, Bishnupur district, left two Assam Rifles dead and several others wounded after suspected armed assailants opened fire on their convoy. The attack has rattled communities across Manipur and deepened concerns over renewed violence in the region.
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For many, the vigil was both a show of solidarity and a statement of gratitude as the people of Churachandpur district hold deep respect for the security forces, both for their sincere efforts to protect the community and for their stand against indiscriminate violence in the district.