A truck driver was killed and a Manipur Police constable was injured after suspected militants opened fire on a security-escorted convoy along National Highway-202 near TM Kasom in Ukhrul district today . The attack has once again highlighted the security challenges and continuing ethnic tensions in Manipur’s hill districts.
According to police and eyewitnesses, a joint team of Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Manipur Police personnel was escorting 15 to 20 trucks carrying essential commodities, including Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice, to Ukhrul town. The convoy came under heavy fire around 11 a.m. near TM Kasom, about six kilometres from Shangkai village.
Security personnel immediately retaliated, leading to a brief but intense gunfight. The truck driver, reportedly a resident of West Bengal, died on the spot. His identity has not yet been officially confirmed, although sources said he was a non-local transporter. A Manipur Police constable suffered bullet injuries during the exchange of fire.
The incident took place only hours after protests were reported in Shangkai village. Protesters, largely from the Kuki-Zo community, burned tyres and attempted to block the highway over recent incidents, including the alleged killing of three Kuki-Zo church leaders on May 13 and detentions by rival groups. Security forces used tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse the crowd, leaving at least five civilians injured.
The ambush occurred in the same area where tensions had already escalated, raising concerns about security arrangements and the effectiveness of convoy escorts in a region facing growing distrust between communities and the administration.
The attack is not an isolated incident. The TM Kasom-Litan stretch of NH-202 has witnessed repeated violence in recent months. On April 18, two Tangkhul Naga civilians, including a retired Army soldier, were killed in a similar attack on civilian vehicles in the same area. Naga organisations blamed Kuki armed groups, while Kuki organisations accused Naga insurgents. The cycle of allegations and counter-allegations has continued, with both sides accusing the other of acting with the support of “vested interests.”
Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act” intended to disrupt the movement of essential supplies and undermine peace efforts.
“Drivers transporting commodities are the lifeline of our state,” he said, alleging that certain groups were deliberately trying to create fear and derail normalcy.
The Chief Minister wished the injured constable a speedy recovery and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice. Security forces have launched search and cordon operations in the surrounding hill areas.
Ukhrul, a predominantly Tangkhul Naga district, has witnessed increasing Naga-Kuki tensions since the wider ethnic violence that erupted in 2023. Kuki-Zo groups have been protesting what they describe as the abduction of community members and administrative bias. Naga organisations, on the other hand, accuse Kuki militants of targeting highways to economically isolate hill towns and assert territorial claims. Both communities have armed village volunteers, while security forces have reportedly dismantled bunkers during recent operations.
The state government’s efforts to restore normalcy continue to face challenges. Earlier this week, the Chief Minister met representatives of the Manipur Truck Owners’ Welfare Association and reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring safe movement along highways. However, repeated attacks on escorted convoys have raised concerns that militant groups, community militias, or elements with cross-border links continue to retain the capability to launch attacks.
Non-local drivers, many of whom come from West Bengal, Bihar and other states remain particularly vulnerable while transporting goods through conflict-prone areas.
