Asem Bhakta
Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: The Manipur government has strongly condemned the killing of two civilians in a militant attack at T.M. Kasom village in Ukhrul district on Saturday.
The incident occurred around 2:30 pm when suspected militants opened fire on five vehicles travelling along the Imphal–Ukhrul road, resulting in the deaths of two persons.
According to initial reports, unidentified miscreants, suspected to be armed Kuki militants, ambushed a convoy of four-wheeler vehicles travelling from Imphal towards Ukhrul. The attack took place between Litan and T.M. Kasom village under Litan Police Station. The sudden firing created panic among commuters along the route.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said a case has been registered at Litan Police Station and an investigation is underway. He announced that the case will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further probe.
Expressing deep condolences, the Chief Minister shared the grief of the bereaved families and described the incident as a direct assault on peace and communal harmony in the state. He termed the attack a “heinous and cowardly act” against unarmed civilians, adding that such violence has no place in a civilised society.
He further informed that security forces have rushed to the area and launched operations to apprehend those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice at the earliest.
The Chief Minister, along with Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, is personally monitoring the situation. A high-level meeting was convened to review the prevailing security arrangements.
Appealing for public cooperation, the Home Minister urged citizens to assist security agencies in their efforts to nab the perpetrators.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives, the Chief Minister assured that all necessary measures would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. He also appealed to all communities to remain calm and not fall prey to provocations aimed at disturbing the prevailing peace.
The attack comes a day after Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited Ukhrul district via the Imphal–Ukhrul road and assured steps towards restoring peace. On Saturday afternoon, suspected armed militants opened fire on civilian vehicles along the same route, leaving at least one person dead and two others critically injured.
