IMPHAL: Kuki militants attacked an Indian Army post in trouble-hit Manipur in the Leikai area. As per the Manipur police report, on March 25, 2026, at approximately 11:40 PM, suspected armed Kuki militants opened fire in the general area of Phouljang/Gothol, directing their fire towards an Indian Army post in Phougakchao Awang Leikai.The Indian Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (58th Battalion), deployed in the area, responded swiftly by returning fire towards the source, resulting in an exchange that lasted approximately 30 minutes. No reports of injury or casualty of any security personnel in the midnight attack by Kuki militants.
Security forces have launched a combat operation in search of the militants involved in the attack. As per police information, from the early hours of 26 March 2026, a combined operation was launched by the Indian Army, CRPF, Manipur Police and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) in the general area where the firing took place and the adjoining hill areas.
Security forces deployed in the area are on high alert. The situation remains under close monitoring, and Security Forces will continue operations in the surrounding hill areas.
It should be mentioned that this is the second such attack on security forces in four days in the Northeastern region. In the early hours of 22 March 2026, a standoff attack by ULFA(I) was reported late at night at approximately 2 am near an Assam Police Commando camp at Jagun, Tinsukia district, Assam. Reportedly, 3 to 4 Assam police commandos were injured in the sudden attack by the banned outfit. This is the first attack by the insurgency group ULFA (I) in the last decade on the Assam police.
The timing of the attack on the Assam Police by ULFA (I) raises several questions. Last week, NIA, based on credible intelligence input, arrested 6 Ukraine nationals and one alleged American CIA agent, Aaron Vandyke, in charge of providing advanced war training to Manipur and Northeastern insurgency groups. The arrested CIA agent and Ukrainian nationals were also involved in procuring attack drones for the NE insurgency groups, sources said. The arrests made some sensational claims about the assistance of the CIA and the West to the NE rebel groups. But the CIA’s interest in the Northeastern part of India is still unclear. But the two attacks on security forces in Assam and Manipur raise several questions and security concerns in the region.
