SENAPATI: The Northeast Federation of Truck Owner, Driver & Trade Union (NEFTOD), along with the Senapati District Truck Owners Association and the Senapati District Truck Drivers Union, have strongly condemned the killing of a truck driver in an ambush near TM Kasom village in Ukhrul district and called for enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of transport workers and the uninterrupted movement of essential commodities.
In separate statements issued following the incident, the organisations expressed shock and grief over the death of Nitish Kumar (57), a resident of Hooghly district in West Bengal, who was driving a Food Corporation of India (FCI) truck bearing registration number WB15C2403 when he was reportedly shot dead by suspected Kuki militants along National Highway-202 on May 29.
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Describing the incident as a barbaric and cowardly act, the truckers’ bodies said the attack was not only a grave assault on an innocent civilian but also a direct threat to the safety and security of transport workers engaged in the delivery of essential goods across the region.
“Truck drivers and transport workers are merely carrying out their duties to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the people and must never become targets of violence,” NEFTOD stated.
The federation further expressed concern that the ambush reportedly occurred despite the truck being under security escort, raising serious questions about the adequacy and effectiveness of existing security arrangements. It urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the security lapse and implement corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Senapati district truck bodies echoed similar concerns, stating that violence against unarmed drivers engaged in essential services posed a serious threat to public order and disrupted vital supply chains that sustain daily life.
The organisations collectively urged the Government of Manipur and the concerned authorities to immediately apprehend those responsible for the killing and ensure that exemplary punishment is delivered without delay. They also called for strengthened security measures along NH-202 and other vulnerable routes frequently used by transporters.
NEFTOD further appealed to both the State and Central governments to provide adequate compensation to the victim’s family, noting that Nitish Kumar was the sole breadwinner supporting his three minor children and elderly parents.
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At a time when Manipur continues to grapple with conflict-related challenges, the federation appealed to all parties involved to exercise restraint and work towards peace and reconciliation. It stressed that violence and bloodshed only deepen suffering and instability, while dialogue remains the only sustainable path towards resolution.
Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family and the wider transport community, the Truck organisations conveyed their heartfelt condolences and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
“Justice must be delivered swiftly, and such acts must never be allowed to recur. An attack on one driver is an attack on the entire transport community,” the statement said.