A Colonel of the Indian Army, his wife and their son were among seven people killed by militants in an ambush in Manipur on Saturday.

The attack was carried out near the Myanmar border in the state’s Churachandpur district at around 10 am. The colonel was the commanding officer of an Assam Rifles unit. 

Four Assam Rifles personnel were also killed and three injured in the deadliest  attack in the region in recent years. 

So far, no militant organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack. The police and security forces launched a massive manhunt for the militants.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh confirmed the death of the army colonel and his family and said a counter-operation has been launched.

The state has several insurgent groups, most of whom are lying low following their signing of separate suspension of operation agreements with the government.

In 2015, 20 soldiers had been killed in an attack by terrorists in the state.