UKHRUL: Fresh gunfire was reported along National Highway-202 (Imphal–Ukhrul Road) on Wednesday evening by unknown miscreants, between Leingangching and TM Kasom (Roudei) village in Ukhrul district, triggering renewed fear among commuters travelling along the vulnerable highway stretch.
According to reliable sources, the firing began at around 4:45 pm and continued until approximately 6 pm. The gunfire reportedly originated from the direction of Yaolen Chepu, a Kuki hamlet under Ukhrul district. Sources also said that Border Security Force (BSF) posts are stationed in the vicinity of the village.
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A passenger commuting the NH-202 on Wednesday, who was travelling from Imphal to Ukhrul, recounted a harrowing experience, stating that their vehicle convoy came under multiple rounds of gunfire when the security escort stopped at Litan, between Leingangching and TM Kasom.
According to the passanger, the escort comprised one Yodha vehicle and four security personnel. As the convoy halted, multiple rounds were fired at moving vehicles. The Winger driver accompanying them had to take cover in the narrow space between truck bodies before speeding away as the firing continued. The passanger said none of the passengers was physically harmed. However, she described the experience as emotionally distressing, expressing concern over the growing insecurity faced by ordinary civilians travelling along the highway.
“The fear of travelling and carrying on with our daily lives have reached an unbearable peak,” the passanger wrote, questioning who would take responsibility for ensuring the safe passage of civilians.
The latest incident comes against the backdrop of repeated attacks along the same highway stretch. On April 18, two Tangkhul Naga civilians, S.W. Chinaoshang and Yaruingam Vashum, were killed in an ambush near TM Kasom while travelling from Imphal to Ukhrul. Two women passengers were also injured in the attack.
In another incident on May 29, a truck driver from West Bengal, identified as Nitish Das (65) of Hooghly district, was shot dead when an escorted goods convoy came under attack between Leingangching and TM Kasom. A Manipur Police constable was also injured in the ambush. The truck was transporting Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice to Ukhrul. Manipur Police later attributed the convoy attack to armed Kuki militants positioned in the Patleijang hill area.
The same day villagers of TM Kasom alleged that armed Kuki militants from nearby Patleijang opened fire on mourners attending the funeral of an elderly villager near the village cemetery.
As recent as October 18 in the same stretch of NH-202, a Maruti Baleno travelling near Mahadev was fired upon by suspected Kuki militants in the morning from the direction of Shangkai Kuki village, leaving its two occupants, both Gorkha Nepalis, with minor injuries. The occupants narrowly escaped and were administered first aid by security forces.
The recurring incidents have raised serious concerns over the safety of civilians and essential commodities movement along NH-202, despite the deployment of security escorts and forces in the area.
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There was no report of any casualty or injury in Wednesday evening’s firing at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, villagers in the vicinity and commuters have been cautioned to avoid travelling along the affected stretch of NH-202 until the situation is assessed and safe passage is ensured.
The Manipur Police, through its Litan Police Station, eversince the conflict began in early 2026, introduced scheduled escort services between Litan and Yaingangpokpi police stations with three departures daily in each direction.
As per the latest police notice issued on November 1, escorts leave Litan for Yaingangpokpi at 8 am, 12 noon and 3 pm, while services from Yaingangpokpi to Litan depart at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm.
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