Manipur

In a statement on Sunday, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said, "Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 22 developmental projects worth over Rs 4,800 crore in Imphal. Thereafter in Agartala, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the new integrated terminal building at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport and will also launch two key development initiatives."

N. Biren also said that the Union Home Ministry had already started fencing along the India-Myanmar border in Manipur which is around 400-km-long. However, the process was halted in some areas due to land disputes but it continued elsewhere.

The PLA and MNPF in a joint statement on Saturday night claimed responsibility for the ghastly attack, stating that they did not know that the Commanding Officer's family was also in the convoy. "In the disturbed area, family and kid should not accompany. Chief of Army of PLA (Irengbam Chaoren) has congratulated the participating cadres in the operations," said the statement, signed by both the militant outfits' publicity in-charges.

"The cowardly attack on an Assam Rifles convoy in Churachandpur is extremely painful and condemnable. The nation has lost five brave soldiers including the Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles and his two family members," the Defence Minister said. He paid condolences to the bereaved families and said the perpetrators will be brought to justice soon.

The police said the incident took place at around 11 a.m. near Sehken village, as the heavily armed suspected People's Liberation Army (PLA) militants fired upon the convoy of Assam Rifles Colonel Viplav Tripathi, killing him, his wife, their 9-year-old son, three Quick Reaction Team (QRT) jawans and the driver on the spot.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh had also assured the two northeastern states of all possible assistance to control the inferno. Four IAF helicopters equipped with Bambi bucket on Sunday continued to spray huge waters on the wildfire.