Rifleman Khatnei Konyak

Rifleman Khatnei Konyak hailed from Zangkham Village of Mon district in Nagaland. He was inclined to join the Army since his younger days like his elder brother, who too joined Assam Rifles after completing his education. Following his passion, eventually Rfn Khatnei Konyak joined the Assam Rifles and was recruited into 46 Assam Rif battalion of Assam Rifles, the oldest para-military force of India with its headquarters at Shillong. The battalion was engaged in defending the Indo-Myanmar border as well as conducting counter-insurgency operations in the North East states. After serving for sometime, Rfn Khatnei Konyak got married in the year 2020 and the couple was blessed with a child.

Manipur ambush: 13 Nov 2021

During Nov 2021, Khatnei Konyak's unit 46 Assam Rif battalion, was deployed in Manipur for counter-insurgency operations. There had been increased militant activity in the border region of Manipur since the early part of the year 2021 and in response to this, the Army and paramilitary forces had been conducting coordinated operations along the 1,643-km of an unfenced border between Manipur and Myanmar. On 13 Nov 2021, Rfn Khatnei Konyak and his comrades along with their Commanding Officer Col Viplav Tripathi were returning to their battalion headquarters at Khuga after a visit to the unit's forward operating base in Behiang area near India-Myanmar border. Rfn Khatnei Konyak was part of the quick reaction team that was moving in a four vehicle convoy.

However, as the convoy reached Sehkan village in Churachandpur district of Manipur, the militants of PLA (People's Liberation Army) and MNPF (Manipur Naga People's Front) launched a surprise attack in a pre-planned move. At around 1030 hrs in the morning, the militants first detonated an IED and followed it up with indiscriminate firing from vantage points in the surrounding forested area. The attack was very sudden and devastating, giving no time for the soldiers to take any action. Consequently Col Viplav Tripathi, Rfn Khatnei Konyak and three other soldiers lost their lives in this dastardly attack. Besides Rfn Khatnei Konyak and his CO, the other martyred soldiers included Rfn Suman Swargiari, Rfn RP Meena and Rfn Shyamal Das. Rfn Khatnei Konyak was a brave and motivated soldier, who laid down his life in the line of his duty. 

Rfn Khatnei Konyak is survived by his parents, wife, child and brother.