Ukhrul, May 29: Violence once again rocked the sensitive Imphal–Ukhrul–Kamjong highway route after an FCI driver was shot dead and a policeman injured in an alleged militant attack near Yaolen village under Litan Police Station in Ukhrul district on Friday.
The incident reportedly took place around 11:00 AM along National Highway-202, when suspected Kuki armed militants allegedly opened indiscriminate fire at a convoy moving along the vulnerable stretch.
The deceased, an employee driving a Food Corporation of India (FCI) vehicle, is believed to be a native of West Bengal. He succumbed to bullet injuries on the spot. Authorities were yet to establish his identity as no official identification documents were reportedly recovered from the deceased at the time of filing this report.
The injured security personnel has been identified as Disingam Maringmei, Constable No. 1905583 attached to Ukhrul Police Station. He reportedly sustained injuries during the firing incident and was evacuated for treatment.
Following the attack, security forces immediately rushed to the spot and launched area domination operations, while additional reinforcements were deployed to secure the strategic highway stretch.
The latest incident has once again exposed the fragile security situation along NH-202, considered a lifeline connecting Imphal to the hill districts of Ukhrul and Kamjong. The highway has repeatedly witnessed violent ambushes in recent months, raising concerns among residents, transporters, and daily commuters.
Notably, this marks the third major attack along the same route since February this year. Earlier this month, two civilians travelling through the highway were killed in a similar ambush allegedly carried out by suspected Kuki militants. In another separate incident, a policeman returning from official duty from Litan Police Station narrowly survived after militants reportedly ambushed security personnel on the same stretch.
The fresh firing incident unfolded hours after tensions escalated at Sangkhai Kuki Village, where hundreds of Kuki women reportedly blocked the road from around 9:00 AM, disrupting vehicular movement.
The blockade, reportedly organised under the aegis of Kuki Inpi Manipur, was staged to demand the release of Kuki hostages. Goods-carrying trucks heading towards Ukhrul were halted, causing major disruption to transport services.
Sources informed that security personnel faced stiff resistance while attempting to clear the route, during which tear gas shells and mock bombs were reportedly used to disperse the protestors and restore traffic movement.
Meanwhile, fresh reports of gunfire emerging from the TM Kasom village area further heightened fears of escalating unrest in the region.
As of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by the police or district authorities regarding the latest attack.
Users Today : 2362
Total Users : 43782