This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-33007086
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| India ambush: Manipur rebels 'kill at least 20 soldiers' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 20 soldiers have been killed and 15 injured in an attack on a troop convoy in north-east India, police say. | |
| The ambush occurred in the state of Manipur as the convoy made its way to Imphal, the state capital. | |
| The region's deadliest in years, the attack is thought to be a retaliation for the death of a woman who soldiers are accused of killing on Monday. | |
| Authorities in Manipur have struggled for years with an insurgency involving several militant groups. | Authorities in Manipur have struggled for years with an insurgency involving several militant groups. |
| Thursday's attack took place at 07:00 local time (01:30 GMT) in the state's Chandel district, close to the border with Myanmar. | Thursday's attack took place at 07:00 local time (01:30 GMT) in the state's Chandel district, close to the border with Myanmar. |
| Police said rebels used rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles to target the soldiers. | Police said rebels used rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles to target the soldiers. |
| No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the worst in the area in more than a decade. | No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the worst in the area in more than a decade. |
| The attack came a day after shops and businesses in the state closed in protest over the alleged killing of a woman by soldiers. | The attack came a day after shops and businesses in the state closed in protest over the alleged killing of a woman by soldiers. |
| 'Disturbed areas' | 'Disturbed areas' |
| Manipur has been relatively peaceful in recent years and the attack took authorities by surprise, said the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder from Delhi. | Manipur has been relatively peaceful in recent years and the attack took authorities by surprise, said the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder from Delhi. |
| Along with other north-east Indian states, Manipur is poorly developed and has long complained of neglect by the federal government, fuelling unrest, our correspondent adds. | Along with other north-east Indian states, Manipur is poorly developed and has long complained of neglect by the federal government, fuelling unrest, our correspondent adds. |
| In April, insurgents opened fire at two trucks carrying Indian paramilitary soldiers in neighbouring Nagaland state, killing eight of them. | In April, insurgents opened fire at two trucks carrying Indian paramilitary soldiers in neighbouring Nagaland state, killing eight of them. |
| Indian security forces have for more than half a decade had sweeping shoot-to-kill powers in so-called "disturbed areas" under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). | Indian security forces have for more than half a decade had sweeping shoot-to-kill powers in so-called "disturbed areas" under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). |
| The controversial act was first enforced in Manipur in 1958 and later introduced in other insurgency-ridden north-eastern states. | The controversial act was first enforced in Manipur in 1958 and later introduced in other insurgency-ridden north-eastern states. |
| The law has been blamed for "fake encounter" killings and campaigners say it is often misused. It was withdrawn in Tripura at the end of May. | The law has been blamed for "fake encounter" killings and campaigners say it is often misused. It was withdrawn in Tripura at the end of May. |