IMPHAL: Situation in trouble-hit Manipur further deteriorated after killings of two civilians by suspected Kuki terrorists in Ukhrul district. A quiet afternoon on April 18 turned tragic after unidentified gunmen, suspected to be SoO Kuki militants, opened fire on civilian vehicles near TM Kasom under Litan Police Station, killing two people on the spot and injuring the fragile sense of security in the region.
The victims have been identified as Chinaoshang Shokwungnao (45), son of a retired Indian Army soldier from Tashar village, and Yaruingam Vashum (42) from Kharasom CC village. Both were among passengers travelling from Imphal to Ukhrul in a convoy of six vehicles, which included women, children, and elderly individuals.
According to initial reports, the convoy had safely crossed sensitive stretches like Mahadev and Litan under the protection of security escorts. However, shortly after the escort team turned back towards Litan, terrorists ambushed the vehicles near Yaolen Kuki village around 2:35 pm. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the attackers used snipers and long-range weapons, deliberately targeting civilians in a calculated assault.
Security forces rushed to the site immediately after the incident and launched combing operations in the surrounding areas. “Adequate forces have been deployed in strategic locations to prevent further escalation. Search operations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible,” a statement from Manipur Police said.
The attack has triggered sharp reactions from local bodies and community organisations, reflecting the fragile and volatile ethnic dynamics in the hill districts.
The Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) strongly condemned the killings, describing the incident as “brutal” and “beyond the limits of human conscience.” In a statement, TNL alleged that armed Kuki groups operating under Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangements were behind the attack. The organisation further claimed that similar incidents targeting civilians have been reported in areas like Litan, Laho, Sinakeithei, Sikibung, and Thawai since early February, marking a worrying escalation in tensions between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities.
TNL also raised serious concerns over what it termed as the “failure” of both state and central forces to prevent such attacks, questioning whether the lack of action was due to “incompetence or complicity.” The organisation demanded immediate combing operations in Yaolen and adjoining villages, holding authorities accountable for the loss of civilian lives.
The timing of the attack has added to public outrage. It occurred just a day after Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh visited Ukhrul and reportedly assured enhanced security measures, including road opening patrols (RoP) and escorted movement along highways. For many locals, the incident has cast doubt on the effectiveness of those assurances.
Meanwhile, Thadou Inpi Manipur also issued a strong condemnation of the ambush, calling for the immediate identification and punishment of those responsible under the law. However, the organisation simultaneously distanced the Thadou community from the incident, objecting to what it described as “false and defamatory” references linking Thadou identity with Kuki militant groups.
In a separate move, Thadou Inpi Manipur has filed a formal complaint at Imphal Police Station against the alleged misrepresentation, urging media outlets and organisations to avoid conflating distinct ethnic identities. “Thadou is a distinct people with its own identity, culture, and institutions. It is not part of Kuki in any manner,” the statement asserted.
The organisation reiterated that the Thadou people are peace-loving and law-abiding, with no involvement in militant activities, and expressed concern over being wrongly associated with violence.
As security forces continue search operations in the area, fear and uncertainty linger among residents and travellers along National Highway-202, a crucial lifeline connecting Imphal and Ukhrul. For families of the victims, however, the tragedy is deeply personal — a reminder of how quickly routine journeys can turn fatal in conflict-hit regions.
Authorities have appealed for calm, even as the incident underscores the urgent need for sustained peace efforts and effective security measures in Manipur’s sensitive hill districts.
