Methna Konyak

Biography

Rifleman Methna Konyak hailed from the Mon district of Nagaland. He was recruited into the 4th Battalion of the Assam Rifles, the oldest paramilitary force of India, headquartered at Shillong. Known for its role along the sensitive north-eastern frontier, the Assam Rifles has long been entrusted with guarding the Indo-Myanmar border and containing insurgent activity in the region. During 2020, Rifleman Konyak's unit, 4 Assam Rifles, was deployed in the Chandel district of Manipur along the Indo-Myanmar border. As the unit's area of responsibility was affected by militancy, the troops were engaged in frequent operations against militants and launched regular patrols to monitor suspicious activity. On 29 July 2020, the battalion carried out an area domination patrol in Khongtal, a village falling under Chakpikarong in Chandel district, about 100 km from Imphal. While the patrol team of fifteen soldiers, including Rifleman Konyak, was returning after the operation, suspected militants detonated a series of IED blasts followed by heavy gunfire. Responsibility for the ambush was later claimed by the Manipur Naga People's Front, the Revolutionary People's Front, and the ULFA-Independent. The blasts were devastating and left the soldiers no time to react. Rifleman Methna Konyak, along with Rifleman Ratan Salam and Havildar Pranay Kalita, was gravely wounded and succumbed to his injuries. A valiant and dedicated soldier, Rifleman Methna Konyak laid down his life in the line of duty guarding the nation's frontier.