India: Two soldiers killed in Manipur state May 8

Event

Two military personnel members were killed and three others injured in an IED explosion near the Indo-Myanmar border town of Moreh in Manipur’s Chandel district on Monday, May 8. The soldiers of the Territorial Army were reportedly about to reach Lokchao camp when the blast took place. Military operations are underway in the area. No insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

Insurgents located on the India-Myanmar frontier rely on the porous border to carry out attacks on Indian forces in Indian territory before fleeing back to camps in Myanmar. In 2015, insurgents attacked an army convoy, killing 17 soldiers.

Advice

As a reminder, Indian authorities advise against all travel to Manipur – due to a risk from insurgent groups and violence, mainly in rural areas – and against all but essential travel to Imphal, the state capital of Manipur.