Intense Clash at Assam Rifles Camp in Arunachal Pradesh
Pre-Dawn Assault on Security Forces
Suspected militant ammunition and explosive rounds recovered following the pre-dawn attack (Photo: AT)
Margherita, Aug 14: An early morning assault on an Assam Rifles camp located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh led to a significant exchange of gunfire between suspected militants and security personnel on Friday, resulting in increased vigilance along the Assam-Arunachal border.
As per security reports, the attack was directed at the Longvi Company Operating Base (COB) of the 21 Assam Rifles situated in Longvi village around 3:15 AM.
Sources indicated that the operation was allegedly orchestrated by SS Colonel Makam Hachen of NSCN (K-YA), although this claim has not been independently verified at the time of this report.
The militants reportedly executed a stand-off attack, firing from a distance in what appeared to be an effort to target the security installation just before Independence Day.
Information suggests that the attackers launched two Lathode rounds from the "3 Hit" direction towards the camp, disrupting the early morning tranquility in the vicinity. Personnel from the Assam Rifles quickly assumed defensive positions and initiated a robust counterattack.
The intense gunfight reportedly lasted for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Security sources noted that the militants were ultimately compelled to retreat into the dense forests nearby after failing to penetrate the camp's defenses.
No injuries or fatalities were reported among the Assam Rifles or other security forces. However, it remains unclear whether any militants sustained injuries or were killed during the retaliatory fire.
A senior security official suggested that the attack was likely an attempt by the banned Naga insurgent group to execute a disruptive act ahead of the nation's 78th Independence Day, a time when security forces in the Northeast are on high alert for potential militant activities.
This incident has raised new concerns in the sensitive Changlang district, which shares a lengthy and porous border with areas affected by insurgency.
In response to the attack, Assam Rifles and Arunachal Pradesh Police personnel initiated extensive combing operations in the surrounding forests after securing the area. Searches were ongoing at the time of this report to locate the fleeing militants.
In light of the attack, security measures have been significantly heightened in Assam's border regions adjacent to Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in Margherita, Ledo, Lekhapani, and Jagun within Tinsukia district.
Police and paramilitary forces have intensified surveillance across critical transit routes and entry points along the inter-state border. Authorities have also increased naka checking and joint patrols to thwart any potential militant movement or infiltration into Assam.
The district administration and police have advised residents in border villages to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
This attack occurs amid heightened security protocols across the Northeast in anticipation of Independence Day celebrations, with security agencies closely monitoring insurgent movements in vulnerable border areas.