FCI driver killed in ambush by Kuki militants
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 29 2026: One Bengali truck driver of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was killed on the spot while a policeman sustained injuries in another daring highway attack carried out by suspected Kuki militants.

The deadly attack took place at Yaolen village between Leingangching and TM Kasom village, Ukhrul district under Litan police station on NH-202 (Imphal-Ukhrul-Kamjong road) at around 11 am on May 29 .

Sources said that the FCI driver killed in the attack has been identified as Nitish Kumar s/o Bidas Kumar from Hooghly, West Bengal.

He was hit by a bullet on the chest.

Nitish Kumar was transporting essential commodities on Imphal-Ukhrul road.

FCI driver killed in ambush by Kuki militants

Soon after the attack, a team of Litan police station rushed to the spot and tried to evacuate the truck driver.

Even as the security personnel were busy trying to evacuate the truck driver and other transporters stranded in the area, Kuki militants fired indiscriminately upon the security personnel.

In the indiscriminate firing by Kuki militants, one police personnel of Litan police station sustained bullet injuries on both his legs and was evacuated to JNIMS hospital for treatment.

The injured police personnel has been identified as Disingam Maringmei (35) s/ o (L) Meikhenthing of Sangaiprou Kabui Khul.

He is presently undergoing treatment at JNIMS Hospital and his condition is said to be stable.

Security personnel also retaliated by opening fire toward the Kuki militants and intermittent firing continued till 2 pm, said the sources.

Additional security forces have also rushed to the spot to look after the situation and to prevent any kind of unwanted incidents.

The body of the truck driver has been deposited at JNIMS morgue for post mortem.

As the deadly ambush unfolded on the highway, another group of Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons attacked TM Kasom village from Parleijang village.

The attack took place at a time when TM Kasom villagers gathered for the funeral service of an elderly person.

Naga village guards retaliated resulting in an exchange of fire which lasted for more than one hour.

Before the ambush on trucks carrying essential items and the attack at TM Kasom village, a large unruly mob belonging to the Kuki community blocked the road at Sangkai Kuki village and prevented trucks carrying essential items from proceeding toward Ukhrul.

The unruly mob burnt tyres and placed heavy objects including stones, wooden logs and iron railings in the middle of the road to prevent vehicular movement.

Security personnel escorting the convoy of trucks asked the unruly Kuki mob to clear the road.

However instead of listening to the security personnel, the Kuki blockaders pelted stones and other objects toward the security personnel.

In order to control the unruly mob, security personnel were forced to fire some rounds of tear gas shells.

After dispersing the unruly mob, trucks carrying essential items proceeded toward Ukhrul along with the security escorts.

As the convoy moved past Litan police station, it came under a fierce ambush from Kuki militants before reaching TM Kasom village.

Notably, today's attack was the third such major attack carried out on the vital and strategic Imphal-Ukhrul-Kamjong road since February this year.

On April 18, suspected Kuki militants ambushed civilian vehicles moving on NH-202 near TM Kasom village and killed two Tangkhul civilians - Chinaoshang Shokwungnao (45) s/o SW Ruichumhao of Tashar village and Yaruingam Vashum (42) s/o Thuimi Vashum of Kharasom CV village, Ukhrul.

The particular ambush took place just a day after Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand visited Ukhrul to promote peace among communities.

In another incident, a policeman returning from official duty escaped with injuries when suspected Kuki militants laid another ambush on the same route on April 24.The recurring attacks have triggered serious concern among commuters and local residents, and many of them have questioned if Kuki militants are trying to lay siege on the highway and cut off movement of people, goods and services along the route.

They have asked if Kuki militants are executing a strategy of siege warfare.