The much-anticipated annual tournament, the “Colonel Viplav Tripathi Memorial Football Tournament,”commenced with great enthusiasm on 17 January 2024 at the Tuibong Peace Ground in Churachandpur District.
This tournament serves as a heartfelt tribute to Colonel (L) Viplav Tripathi, Rifleman (L) RP Meena, Rifleman (L) NK Konyak, Rifleman (L) Suman Swargiary, and Rifleman (L) Shyamal Das of the 46 Assam Rifles, who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation during November 2021 while engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Manipur.
The tournament features eight boys’ teams and six girls’ teams from Churachandpur District, all competing with passion and sportsmanship. The event will culminate with the finals at the end of this month, alongside a solemn homage to these brave soldiers.
The opening ceremony witnessed a gathering of dignitaries, players, and local residents, all united to honour the bravery and dedication of our heroes. This event aims to promote the values of courage, teamwork, and resilience while keeping the legacy of these brave souls alive.
Operation Hifazat (Manipur) : 13 November 2021
During Nov 2021, Col Viplav Tripathi was serving as the Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rif battalion, deployed in Manipur for counter-insurgency operations as part of “Operation Hifazat”. 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, Col Viplav Tripathi was returning to his battalion headquarters at Khuga after a visit to his unit’s forward operating base in Behiang area near India-Myanmar border. Col Viplav Tripathi was moving in a four vehicle convoy along with his family and soldiers of quick reaction team.
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, his wife Smt Anuja, son Abeer and four other soldiers lost their lives in this dastardly attack. Besides Col Viplav Tripathi the other martyred soldiers included Rfn Suman Swargiari, Rfn Khatnei Konyak, Rfn RP Meena and Rfn Shyamal Das. Col Viplav Tripathi was a gallant soldier and fine officer who laid down his life in the line of his duty.
Defence Editor’s note:
The Indian Army who are always made more than a billion people of the Motherland feel safe by guarding our International borders with their selfless sacrifice and dedication has also been very prominent with its contribution towards sports helping the country provide some of the best athletes on the global stage.
(Ms.Pratyusha Mukherjee, an Independent Sr. Broadcast Journalist working for British media with 20 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence and Sports.She is associated with us as Editorial head of Defence and Sports. In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and Indian media awards for Journalism.)
