A civilian truck driver ferrying Food Corporation of India (FCI) goods was killed and a policeman injured when Kuki militants launched fresh attacks on a civil convoy under security escort near TM Kasom under Litan Police Station in Ukhrul district on Friday morning.
The deceased, who died on the spot, was identified as Nitish Kumar (57) from West Bengal. He sustained fatal bullet injuries to his armpit.
The injured policeman, identified as Constable Disingam Maringmei (35) of Litan Police Station, was shot in the left knee and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The exact number of injuries and casualties during the attacks has not yet been ascertained.
Fire from Hilltops
Kuki militants reportedly opened heavy fire on civilians in Litan and surrounding areas on Friday morning at around 11 am and continued till around 1 pm. The shooting originated from hilltops overlooking Litan Bazar and TM Kasom.
According to reports, militants fired from elevated positions on the hills, targeting non-combatants and trucks ferrying essential commodities on NH-202 below. The attack has sparked panic among residents, with many seeking shelters in safer locations.
The militants also directed fire towards TM Kasom Cemetery, where locals were preparing a burial site for an elderly person who died of illness. The locals had to seek safety cover from the gunfire.
In the attack, the FCI truck driver was shot dead by bullets fired from the hilltop while crossing National Highway-202 under a security escort near TM Kasom. The truck was part of a convoy transporting essential supplies, including food grains, to Ukhrul and Kamjong districts which have remained affected due to the ongoing ethnic conflict since February 8 this year.
SFs Clear Shangkai Blockade
A joint team of Security Forces comprising BSF, CRPF, RAF, and Police earlier in the morning escorted 15–20 commercial trucks stranded at PS Yaingangpokpi up to Mahadev.
The Army occupied hills along the stretch from Mahadev to Yaolen to secure the route. The security forces also cleared the blockade at Shangkai village on NH-202 put up by Kuki women. The blockade prompted the security forces to fire tear gas shells and rubber bullets, to disperse blockade enforcers at Shangkai.
The operation was launched amid fears of attacks on civilian convoys on NH-202 in the Litan area, which could have disrupted normal movement and essential supply chains.
Hilltop Operations
Meanwhile, reports indicated that security forces conducted operations at the hill between Litan and TM Kasom area overlooking NH-202 while facing intermittent firing by Kuki miscreants. The operation was carried out after Kuki militants allegedly launched coordinated attacks on civilians in Litan and surrounding areas. Security forces have returned fire and increased patrols in the affected sector.
Recent Attacks
On April 18 this year, suspected Kuki militants ambushed a convoy of private and passenger vehicles traveling from Imphal to Ukhrul, killing two civilians, including a retired Indian Army soldier at the same spot near TM Kasom village. The state government has transferred the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The attack comes just over two weeks after the deadly May 13 ambush in Kangpokpi district that killed three Kuki-Zo church leaders and triggered a hostage crisis involving six Naga civilians and 14 Kuki-Zo individuals.
Tensions between ethnic communities remain extremely high, with both sides imposing blockades and staging protests across the state.