Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: A patrol team from the 21 Assam Rifles came under heavy gunfire Tuesday morning near Nampong Nallah. The ambush occurred at 6:30 am within the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, roughly 10 kilometers from the Pangsau Border Haat. Havildar Jankhokai Kuki, 42, died during the exchange. Four other soldiers sustained injuries in the strike.
The unit was patrolling near the India-Myanmar border while crews worked on nearby fencing projects. Intelligence reports point toward cadres from the NSCN-K-YA faction. Officials have not confirmed the group's involvement yet. Gunmen opened fire near the border perimeter, triggering a massive search operation.
Security forces are scouring the region to track the assailants. Vigilance remains high across the border sector. The Director General of the Assam Rifles, Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, issued a formal statement regarding the loss of the soldier. The organization stated, "Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General Assam Rifles & All Ranks of Assam Rifles pay solemn tribute to Hav Jangkhokai Kuki who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh on 29 Sep 2026 and offer deep condolences to the family of our Brave Soldier." Authorities continue to investigate the scene.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 9:47am
The Yung Aung faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K YA) and the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the political wing of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army, claimed responsibility for the ambush. The groups issued a joint statement declaring the operation was meant to block infrastructure development along the border.
This faction, which operates out of Myanmar and remains outside the ceasefire framework with the Centre, has a history of targeting border projects. They claimed credit for a similar strike along the Namgoi-Pangsau road back in March.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 1:50pm
The NSCN-K (YA) claimed in a statement that their fighters recovered an AK assault rifle from the site of the firefight. The militant group described the ambush as a strike against what they termed foreign occupational forces, framing the assault as a move to defend their land. They concluded their statement with slogans declaring support for their joint struggle across Western South East Asia.
Changlang Superintendent of Police Kirli Padu confirmed that local authorities have significantly ramped up security operations across the sensitive border stretch. While the four wounded soldiers were transported to a hospital for medical treatment, officials have yet to release further updates on their current condition.
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