Guwahati: The banned People's Liberation Army (PLA), Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) and United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) have jointly claimed the responsibility for an ambush in Manipur that led to the deaths of at least 3 Assam Rifles personnel.
The deadly ambush on the Indian Army unit was carried out near the Myanmar border in Chandel district of Manipur on Wednesday night.
As per official reports, the incident took place around 6:30-7:00 pm when troops of Assam Rifles in Khongtal, about 3 km from Indo-Myanmar border, were returning to their post after three days of operation along the international border.
Claiming responsibility for the attack, a joint statement has been issued by Ruichumhao, defense secretary, MNPF; MM Ngouba, chief of army staff, PLA and Paresh Asom, vice chairman, and chief of army staff, ULFA (I).
"Internationally 'the era of expansionism is over' but not the Indian expansionism," stated the joint statement. The militant outfits in the statement said: "As the entire world has made up its mind against expansionism, the people of WeSEA (Western South East Asia) are also countering against the expansionism of India."
"As a course of the independence struggle against Indian colonization and expansionism, a combined force of Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) and United Liberation Front of Asom — Independent (ULFA-I) had conducted a joint military offensive against 10F (Indian Occupation Forces) on July 29, 2020 at Sajik Tampak area of Manipur," the joint statement said.