Officials in India's northeastern state of Manipur say suspected rebels have ambushed a security patrol and killed 15 officers.
Authorities say the officers were patrolling in Bishenpur district when they came under heavy fire for two hours on Saturday.
A conflict analyst, Ajai Sahni of the Institute for Conflict Management, told VOA that it was a high level of fatalities for one incident.
The patrol was on a post-election security detail.
On Friday, Indians in Manipur held a final round of voting in local elections, which were dominated by controversy over an anti-terrorism law. Results have not been released.
Authorities had deployed thousands of security personnel to prevent violence by separatist groups during the elections.
India's government has tried to crush separatist rebels in Manipur by using an anti-terror law that gives Indian troops sweeping powers.
Opposition parties and rights groups are campaigning for the repeal of the law, saying Indian forces use it to commit human rights abuses.
Authorities say the officers were patrolling in Bishenpur district when they came under heavy fire for two hours on Saturday.
A conflict analyst, Ajai Sahni of the Institute for Conflict Management, told VOA that it was a high level of fatalities for one incident.
The patrol was on a post-election security detail.
On Friday, Indians in Manipur held a final round of voting in local elections, which were dominated by controversy over an anti-terrorism law. Results have not been released.
Authorities had deployed thousands of security personnel to prevent violence by separatist groups during the elections.
India's government has tried to crush separatist rebels in Manipur by using an anti-terror law that gives Indian troops sweeping powers.
Opposition parties and rights groups are campaigning for the repeal of the law, saying Indian forces use it to commit human rights abuses.