Intelligence failed on ambush in Manipur that killed 18 Armymen

New Delhi: Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag on Friday rushed to Manipur in the wake of Thursday’s attack by militants in Chandel district of the state that left 18 soldiers dead, with defence sources admitting there had been a massive intelligence failure.

Sources said the Indian Army may ask the Myanmar Army for assistance to track down the militants. Defence sources said the ambush was meticulously planned at least three weeks in advance by the militants. It is being suspected that the militants who carried out the attack may have sneaked across the border into Myanmar.

Sources said the terror attack seems to have been carried out by Manipur-based local militants, perhaps with some involvement of Naga militant group NSCN (Khaplang), but defence sources doubted the involvement of the NSCN(K).