Four civilians were reportedly picked up by Assam Rifles personnel during what villagers denounced as unnotified, surprise search operations in the Litan area of Ukhrul district on Tuesday morning, sparking strong condemnation from local bodies and demands for their immediate release.
Number discrepancy
While villagers and the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) stated four individuals were detained, Manipur Police later confirmed three detentions, linking the operations to an investigation into a recent ambush on security forces.
The search operations, which commenced around 8-9 am, targeted Sharkaphung/Sikibung village, under Litan Police Station, and TM Kasom.
The four civilians identified by villagers as having been picked up from Sharkaphung/Sikibung are Wungphayo Kasar (24), s/o Yurthan Kasar; AS Ninglum (29), s/o AS Hopeson; Yaoreingam Lungleng (24), s/o Makanmi Lungleng; and Vareiyo Lungleng (56), s/o Tuifa Lungleng.
Church, houses raided
According to local residents, Assam Rifles troops raided houses in Sharkaphung/Sikibung, confiscating mobile phones. Villagers who enquired with Litan police about the detentions were reportedly told that the police had no knowledge of the operation and were not involved. The whereabouts of the four civilians remained unknown following their apprehension, villagers added.
Similar operations were simultaneously reported at TM Kasom, where Assam Rifles personnel raided houses and the local pastor’s quarters.
The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) condemned the combing operation, which it alleged was carried out by a combined team of police, Assam Rifles, and personnel from the Punjab, Madras, and Bihar Regiments in Tangkhul Naga villages, including TM Kasom, Sharkaphung, and Lungphu.
Bias in Ops
The TNL Media Cell stated that the Tangkhul community is exasperated by the conduct of security forces, particularly as these operations were launched in areas like TM Kasom and Sharkaphung, which they claimed have faced “aggressive attacks from Kuki militant groups (including those operating under the SoO pact) and Kuki narco-terrorist groups” since the outbreak of violence in Ukhrul district on February 7, 2026.
The TNL further highlighted what it described as a disparity, noting that Kuki villages, labelled as the epicentres of the violence in Ukhrul and Kamjong, have not been targeted by security forces to date.
24-hours for release
The TNL Working Committee warned that these alleged “excesses by security forces” could have serious ramifications and further worsen the already volatile situation. Demanding the immediate release of the four detained villagers within 24 hours, the committee cautioned that failure to comply would “invite serious civil unrest against the state government.”
Police update
Meanwhile, Manipur Police, in a statement posted on Facebook, provided a differing account and justification for the operations. Police confirmed that security forces had launched an intelligence-based operation in TM Kasom, Litan, and Sikibung.
The objective, they stated, was to arrest those responsible for an ambush on security forces near Lungshang Kong in Ukhrul district on July 6, 2026. The police post confirmed that three persons (a discrepancy from the four reported by villagers/TNL) had been detained during these operations.
Despite the tensions, Manipur Police also reported that farming activities in the area continue unhindered, shops remain open, and regulated traffic on NH-202 is moving as planned.