Truck Driver Killed in Manipur Convoy Ambush, 6 Injured in Protest Clash

The incident took place on a day when a delegation of Supreme Court judges arrived in Manipur to supervise legal services camps. Security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters who had been blocking a stretch of National Highway 202 in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Friday.

Stating that security forces have been trying to escort the commercial vehicles to their respective destinations, official sources said, “A joint team, including the BSF, the CRPF and the local police, were escorting about 20 commercial trucks towards the Ukhrul district when the convoy came under attack near T.M. Kasom from suspected militants, killing a truck driver at the spot.” The officials said that the security forces also retaliated, resulting in a brief exchange of gunfire. The identity of the deceased has not yet been ascertained.

The incident occurred around 6 km from Shangkai village, where protesters blocked roads, prompting the security forces to fire several tear gas shells to disperse the agitators on Friday morning. Official sources said that at least five women sustained minor injuries during the mêlée and were administered first aid by security forces.

Meanwhile a five-member delegation of Supreme Court Judges led by Justice B R Gavai, who is also the Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) arrived in Imphal on Friday. After arriving at Imphal, three Judges of the delegation, Justice Gavai, Justice Vikram Nath and Justice M M Sundresh visited Churachandpur and attended the inauguration program of legal services camp, health camp, legal aid clinics there.

The team of Supreme Court Judges also participated in the enrolment campaign in which eligible IDPs were enrolled as beneficiaries for various schemes.

Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh has condemned the ambush carried out on a goods vehicle by unknown armed miscreants. The Chief Minister expressed his condolences on the death of the truck driver from West Bengal, who succumbed due to bullet injuries in the unfortunate incident. "Targeting the goods vehicle and taking the life of a driver, who plays a crucial role in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of essential items across the state, is one of the most cowardly acts and intends to further aggravate the tense situation prevailing in the area," he said in a statement.

The Manipur CM further stated that the ambush seemed to be carried out by vested interest groups with the ill motive to derail the initiatives of the state government to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

Earlier on Wednesday the Chief Minister met representatives of the Manipur Truck Owners’ Welfare Association to discuss the law-and-order situation on the national highways and the movement of goods transport. The CM had said that "The government is committed to ensuring the safe and smooth movement of transport vehicles and keeping the national highways free from all hindrances."

Earlier, two civilians, including a retired Army personnel, were shot dead by suspected militants on April 18 in an ambush near T.M. Kasom village. Significant tension has been simmering in the area since May 13, when more than 38 people were abducted and held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, hours after three church leaders were killed in an ambush in Kangpokpi district.

So far, 31 hostages, including 12 Naga women and 16 Kukis, have been released. However, six Naga men remain unaccounted for, and their whereabouts are still unknown. While the Kuki Inpi Manipur claims that Naga groups are still holding 14 members of the Kuki community captive.