New Delhi: In a suspected militant attack, two Naga men, including a retired soldier, were shot dead while they were travelling in a car on a highway in Manipur’s Ukhrul district.
The firing took place Saturday, a day after Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited the district.
The deceased have been identified as Chinaoshang Shokwungnao, a retired Naga Regiment officer hailing from Tashar village, and Yaruingam Vashum, from Kharasom village.
While Tangkhul Naga Long, an apex body of Tangkhul Naga tribe, blamed “Kuki militants”, the Kuki-Zo community distanced itself from the incident, with the Kuki Zo Council expressing regret in a statement and maintaining that people from the community had no role in it.
The Manipur Police said on X that unidentified gunmen, suspected to be militants, had Saturday fired upon civilians at TM Kasom under Litan police station limits in Ukhrul district. It resulted in the deaths of two persons on the spot. Security forces were informed about the incident and rushed immediately to the site and launched a manhunt.
“Adequate security forces have been deployed in the area and strategic locations to prevent further escalation of violence. Operations are still underway in the surrounding area,” the police stated.
Security forces continue to conduct search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable areas across districts.
Movement of 142 vehicles carrying essential items along NH-37 has been ensured. Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and… pic.twitter.com/IaDYJJJsCT
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) April 18, 2026
CM Khemchand condemned the killings on Facebook and said the case would be handed over to the NIA. “I strongly condemn the killing of two innocent civilians in an attack by militants at TM Kasom village in Ukhrul district around 2.30 pm today. My government has decided to hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” he wrote, adding that security forces had launched an operation to apprehend those responsible.
“I offer my condolences to the bereaved families and share their grief in this hour,” he stated.
Khemchand had visited villages in Ukhrul district Friday to build trust between communities and called for dialogue as the only way to restore peace. He had interacted with locals and addressed their concerns.
On Saturday, the CM posted on X: “The briefing by IGAR (South) at the Secretariat today reaffirmed that the law and order situation in the State is sensitive but under control, with security forces responding to all disturbances with utmost care and restraint.”
“I urge all citizens to remain cautious of rumours and misinformation that may incite unrest. The Government is committed to ensuring justice, which will be delivered in due course, while maintaining peace and stability across the State.”
The briefing by IGAR (South) at the Secretariat today reaffirmed that the law and order situation in the State is sensitive but under control, with security forces responding to all disturbances with utmost care and restraint.
I urge all citizens to remain cautious of rumours… pic.twitter.com/koLzndG4fI
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) April 18, 2026
‘Security forces incompetent or complicit’
Reacting to the incident, the working committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) said the brutal attack on civilians near Yaolen Kuki village took place around 2.35 pm Saturday.
“The grave incident is beyond words for anyone to describe the savagery of the Kukis, who have gone beyond the limit of human conscience and morality. Ever since the conflict between the Tangkhul Nagas and the Kukis started in early February, Kuki militants have been openly attacking civilians in Litan, Laho, Sinakeithei, Sikibung and Thawai,” it said in a statement to the media.
Adding, “The apathetic silence of the state and central forces, who have openly allowed the atrocities of the feral Kukis to continue unchecked, has emboldened the Kuki militants to carry out such an inhuman attack. The inability of the security forces to comb out illegal militants and to undertake area domination exercises begs the question on whether the security forces are incompetent or simply complicit with the Kuki militants.”
‘Blame is hastily attributed’
A Kuki Zo Council statement said that “based on ground-level understanding, the (firing) incident appears to be linked to prevailing tensions among certain factional groups, rather than the handiwork of any Kuki-Zo group”.
“It is deeply regrettable that, without proper verification or credible evidence, blame is hastily attributed to the Kuki-Zo community.”
“Such unfounded allegations have, unfortunately, become a recurring pattern whenever any untoward incident occurs involving either the Meitei or the Naga communities in Manipur. This tendency not only distorts facts but also unfairly portrays the Kuki-Zo community in a negative light,” it added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)