Correspondent
IMPHAL, Jul 8: Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday paid their last respects to two Assam Rifles personnel who were killed in an ambush in Ukhrul district on July 6. A solemn wreath-laying ceremony for the martyred paramilitary personnel was held at Imphal Airport before their mortal remains were sent to their respective native states. The ceremony was conducted with full military honours.
The two personnel were killed in a deadly ambush by suspected militants armed with sophisticated weapons on a convoy of the 40 Assam Rifles along NH-202 (Imphal-Ukhrul Road) near Nungshang Kong (Lungshang River) under Ukhrul police station on the afternoon of July 6 . The martyred personnel were Warrant Officer (general duty) Balwant Singh and Havildar (driver) Chandra Mohan Singh of the 40th Battalion, Assam Rifles.
Bhalla paid his last respect to the two personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while laying wreath on their mortal remains at Imphal Airport this morning.
Chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh also offered floral wreaths and observed a moment of silence in memory of the fallen soldiers, paying tribute to their courage, dedication and supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. A ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to the slain personnel as officers and personnel of the Army, Assam Rifles and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) paid their final respects.
Among those present were home minister Govindas Konthoujam, some MLAs, state security advisor Kuldiep Singh, general officer commanding (GOC) 3 Corps Lt Gen. Girish Kalia, Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) Major General Gaurav Sharma, senior civil and police officials, and senior officers of the Army, Assam Rifles and CAPF.