Four Killed in Suspected Militant Attack in Ukhrul, Manipur

Ukhrul, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : In a tragic incident on Friday afternoon, four individuals, including two women, lost their lives in a suspected militant attack on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in Ukhrul district, Manipur. The attack is believed to have been carried out by suspected Kuki militants in the New Haven area, which falls under the Litton police station jurisdiction.

Ukhrul district shares an unprotected international border with Myanmar and an interstate boundary with Nagaland. Security forces, led by senior police officials, swiftly arrived at the scene, and the Litton police station is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Local media reports indicate that the deceased were members of the Naga community. A police officer in Imphal stated that two men and two women, traveling in two vehicles, were shot shortly after armed militants opened fire. Evidence of gunfire was found on the windshields of both vehicles. Further details about the incident are still pending.

Meanwhile, life in Kangpokpi district was partially disrupted on Friday due to a shutdown called by a tribal organization in response to the death of a Kuki woman during a shootout between rival groups on Thursday. Shops, markets, and other businesses remained closed, and public transport, including buses and auto-rickshaws, was largely absent, causing significant inconvenience for residents.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) announced a 48-hour shutdown starting midnight on November 12, following the gunfire incident near the Thapho Kuki village. Educational institutions, medical facilities, and emergency services were exempted from the shutdown.

COTU has demanded the withdrawal of all central and state security forces from the hilly areas of Kangpokpi district, particularly those operating under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police in Senapati district. The shooting on Thursday resulted in the death of 42-year-old Kuki woman Kimneneng Chongloi while she was working in a rice field, with two others sustaining injuries.

Kuki organizations allege that members of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K were responsible for the woman’s murder. Since February, clashes between Kuki and Naga groups in the hilly districts of Manipur have resulted in at least 50 fatalities.

Tensions remain high as the region grapples with ongoing violence and instability.