Around 1,800 people gathered in Nambol, Manipur, on September 19 to honour two Assam Rifles personnel killed in an ambush one year ago. The gathering marked the first anniversary of the attack at Nambol Sabal Leikai in Bishnupur district.
Local residents, community representatives and young people joined the remembrance programme. They paid tribute to Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjeet Singh Kashyap of 33 Assam Rifles.
The event also renewed calls for peace, harmony and peaceful coexistence in Manipur. Participants expressed solidarity with the Assam Rifles and remembered the personnel for their service.
Nambol Remembers the 2025 Ambush
The ambush took place on September 19, 2025, in the Nambol Sabal Leikai area. A column of 33 Assam Rifles personnel came under attack while travelling in Bishnupur district.
The personnel were returning from flood-relief duties in the Imphal Valley. According to the official account, the attack killed two personnel and injured five others.
The attack occurred at around 5.50 pm. The Assam Rifles column was travelling along National Highway 2 when armed attackers opened fire.
Two Assam Rifles Personnel Honoured
The remembrance programme focused on the two personnel who lost their lives.
They were identified as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjeet Singh Kashyap. Both served with 33 Assam Rifles.
Community members gathered to remember their contribution and sacrifice. The programme also recognised the role of security personnel who serve in difficult conditions.
The gathering provided an opportunity for residents to express solidarity with the families and colleagues of the two personnel.
Personnel Were Returning From Flood Relief Work
The circumstances of the ambush added another dimension to the remembrance programme.
The Assam Rifles personnel had been involved in flood-relief operations in the Imphal Valley. They were returning after completing their humanitarian duties when the attack took place.
The President of India’s 2026 gallantry awards citation also records the circumstances of the attack. It states that Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta drove the vehicle during the ambush despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds. He moved the vehicle out of the ambush area and helped save other personnel.
The citation awarded Dutta the Shaurya Chakra for his actions during the attack.
Calls for Peace and Harmony
The first-anniversary gathering also carried a wider message about peace.
Residents, community representatives and young people expressed support for peaceful coexistence in Manipur. They remembered the two personnel while calling for an end to violence.
Such public gatherings have also taken place since the attack. In September 2025, hundreds of people joined a candlelight and torch rally in Keirenphabi to honour the two Assam Rifles personnel.
Participants at that rally carried candles and torches and raised calls for peace and stability.
The latest gathering in Nambol continued that public expression of remembrance.
Investigation Into the Ambush
Authorities launched an investigation soon after the 2025 attack.
The case later moved to the National Investigation Agency. In March 2026, the NIA filed charges against three cadres of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army in connection with the ambush.
According to the NIA, its investigation found that PLA cadres had gathered near Nambol Sabal Leikai and attacked the Assam Rifles truck. The agency said the attack killed two personnel and seriously injured five others.
The NIA filed the chargesheet before the NIA Special Court at Imphal. The investigation remains ongoing.
Security Personnel and Local Communities
The Nambol gathering also highlighted the relationship between security personnel and local communities.
The Assam Rifles has carried out security and humanitarian activities in Manipur. Flood-relief operations form part of the wider assistance provided by security forces during emergencies.
The 2025 ambush occurred as personnel returned from such relief work. The first-anniversary event therefore remembered both their service and the circumstances of their deaths.
Residents used the occasion to express solidarity with the force and the families of the deceased.
Gallantry Recognition After the Attack
The events of September 19, 2025, also led to official recognition for one of the personnel involved in the ambush.
Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta received the Shaurya Chakra in 2026. According to the official citation, he continued driving the vehicle despite sustaining several bullet wounds.
The citation said his actions helped move the vehicle away from the danger zone. It credited him with helping save eight fellow soldiers who were travelling in the rear compartment.
The award added another official recognition of the events surrounding the Nambol attack.
First Anniversary Brings Community Together
The first anniversary brought residents together to remember the two fallen personnel. Around 1,800 people attended the programme, according to a report on the gathering.
The participation included local residents, community representatives and youth. Their presence reflected the community’s decision to mark the anniversary publicly.
The event also kept attention on the wider need for peace in Manipur.
Remembering the Fallen
The Nambol gathering served as a remembrance programme for Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjeet Singh Kashyap. It also recalled the five personnel who suffered injuries in the attack.
One year after the ambush, residents gathered at the same location to pay their respects. Their message combined remembrance with calls for peace, harmony and coexistence.
As the investigation into the attack continues, the anniversary has brought renewed attention to the two personnel who lost their lives while serving with 33 Assam Rifles.