Militants kill 7 in Indian border state, including army commander, wife, kid

NEW DELHI – At least five Indian military personnel and two civilians were killed in an ambush by militants in the northeastern state of Manipur, authorities said on Saturday.

Militants attacked a convoy in the Churachandpur district, the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force of the Indian army, said in a statement.

Col. Viplav Tripathi, a commander of the Assam Rifles, his wife, and their son were killed in the ambush, along with four more soldiers, the force said.

Additional units have been sent to the area and are carrying out search operations in the vicinity, it added.

No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Manipur, which lies on the border with Myanmar, has been witnessing an insurgency against Indian rule for more than four decades, with some 20 rebel groups believed to be active in the state.

NEW DELHI – At least five Indian military personnel and two civilians were killed in an ambush by militants in the northeastern state of Manipur, authorities said on Saturday.

Militants attacked a convoy in the Churachandpur district, the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force of the Indian army, said in a statement.

Col. Viplav Tripathi, a commander of the Assam Rifles, his wife, and their son were killed in the ambush, along with four more soldiers, the force said.

Additional units have been sent to the area and are carrying out search operations in the vicinity, it added.

No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Manipur, which lies on the border with Myanmar, has been witnessing an insurgency against Indian rule for more than four decades, with some 20 rebel groups believed to be active in the state.