A pre-dawn assault on a 4 Assam Rifles check post at Hahman village, near Manmao in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh on October 16 has been claimed by the NSCN/GPRN (Yung Aung group) in a press statement released on October 17. The statement said the strike was carried out by “the Naga Army Tactical Unit” and described the operation as successful.
Security and media reports from the Northeast said personnel at the Assam Rifles post exchanged heavy fire with suspected militants in the early hours, and at least two to four personnel were reported injured and evacuated for treatment. Officials said search operations were launched after the attack and the area was sealed for security reasons. Authorities have not publicly released a full casualty list.
In its statement, the NSCN/GPRN (Yung Aung group) accused Indian security forces of mounting repeated operations against the group and said it would continue offensive actions until what it termed “the complete withdrawal of the occupational Indian military from our land.”
“Soon after the attack the Indian forces sealed the area to hide their losses hence the full detail of their casualties cannot be ascertained at this moment,” the NSCN/GPRN claimed.
The NSCN/GPRN said that, for the last few months, “India has seized every opportunity to provoke, incite, kill and destroy the NSCN/GPRN to cause irreparable harm to the Naga National movement.”
The statement added, “No matter what, NSCN/GPRN remains steadfast in our sacred mission to defend our land and people and we reiterate our commitment to continue the tactical strikes until the complete withdrawal of the occupational Indian military from our land.”
The Naga army, it said, “is prepared to strike the Indian armed forces and its machineries anytime at anywhere” and that they will target their patrols, cantonments, outposts, camps and bunkers. “We will inflict fear and uncertainty in their hearts,” it added.
Claiming that the “recent attack was successful and have afflicted heavy casualties to the occupational Indian armed forces,” the group said it honour and salute all the members of the Naga Army Tactical Unit for demonstrating the highest standards of duty and bravery.
The release also congratulated ULFA-I for a separate strike in Tinsukia district of Assam that the statement said took place at Kakopathar.
“At 12:30 am this morning, The ULFA-I Strike team also attack the 19 Grenadier at Kakopathar, Tinsukia district, Assam. We congratulate our ULFA-I comrades-in-arms for this decisive strike and delivering a clear and strong message to the enemy forces,” it said.
Three soldiers were injured in an attack on an Army base in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district shortly after midnight, officials said.
Preliminary information revealed that grenades were hurled targeting the Indian Army’s 19 Grenadiers unit camp at Kakopathar around midnight. According to security sources, three Army personnel sustained injuries in the explosion. The Army said “unidentified terrorists” opened fire on Kakopathar Company from a moving vehicle. Troops on duty responded immediately and effectively while ensuring no collateral damage to civilian houses in the area.
The immediate response forced the terrorists to flee. A search operation has been launched to track them down. Sources indicated the attackers belonged to the banned ULFA (Independent) group and used grenade launchers and automatic rifles.
This region of Assam, once known for militant activity, has remained largely peaceful in recent years. No ULFA (I) incidents had been reported prior to this attack. Security officials suspect the assault may have been in retaliation to recent counter-operations in the Indo-Myanmar area, during which several ULFA militants were killed.
On Thursday, an Assam Rifles Company Operating Base in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district was also attacked, injuring two soldiers. The strike was attributed to terrorists from the NSCN-K (YA) faction. Another Assam Rifles camp near Manmao in the same district was targeted later, reportedly by a combined team of NSCN-K (YA) and ULFA (I).
Following the incidents, the Army and police cordoned off the area and restricted civilian movement. A truck believed to have been used by the attackers was found abandoned in the Tengapani area of Arunachal Pradesh. No group has yet claimed responsibility, though suspicion points to ULFA (I).