Kuki terrorists in the Ukhrul district of Manipur carried out a lethal ambush attack on Saturday (18th April), killing two men, including a retired Army personnel. As per reports, the attack happened around 2:30 pm near Yaolen Kuki village, about four km from Litan on the highway linking Ukhrul town and the State’s capital Imphal. Some Kuki terrorists opened fire when four people, including the victims, were travelling in a car from Imphal towards Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
The deceased have been identified as 45-year-old Chinaoshang Shokwungnao, who served in the Indian Army’s Naga Regiment, and 42-year-old Yaruingam Vashum. Both the victims belonged to the Tangkhul Naga community and hailed from Tashar and Kharasom C.C. villages of Ukhrul district, respectively. Two women were also injured in the attack. Notably, the ambush attack happened amid ongoing conflict in the Litan area between the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities, which started on 7th February.
Ironically, the attack happened a day after Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited the district and spoke about providing security for common people to use the highway safely. A combing operation was launched in the area by the local authorities to nab the attackers. CM Khemchand condemned the attack and said that the case will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). “I strongly condemn the killing of two innocent civilians in an attack by militants at T.M. Kasom village in Ukhrul district around 2:30 pm today. My government has decided to hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” CM Khemchand said.
Holding the Kuki terrorists responsible for the attack, the Central Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (CWC TNL), the apex social body of the Tangkhul Naga community, demanded the immediate suspension of the District Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Ukhrul. The committee also demanded a time-bound and transparent inquiry with accountability, along with a complete overhaul of the current escort and security mechanism.
Speaking about the attack, the CWC TNL said that the victims were travelling from Imphal to Ukhrul. Their vehicles were escorted from Yaingangpokpi to Litan, but the stretch beyond Litan was left unescorted, and that’s where the ambush happened. “The victims were part of a group of passengers, including women, children, and elderly persons, travelling from Imphal to Ukhrul under security escort… The attack was carried out by Kuki SoO cadres using snipers and long-range weapons shortly after the security escort had withdrawn,” the CWC TNL said in the statement.
The Kuki-Zo Council has, however, denied the involvement of Kuki individuals or groups in the attack. “Based on ground-level understanding, the incident appears to be linked to prevailing tensions among certain factional groups, rather than the handiwork of any Kuki-Zo group. It is deeply regrettable that, without proper verification or credible evidence, blame is hastily attributed to the Kuki-Zo community,” the council said in a statement.
