Outrage on Imphal-Ukhrul road again
Passenger taxis fired upon at TM Kasom
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, November 04 2026: Vehicles including taxis going from Imphal to Ukhrul were fired upon the NH-202 at TM Kasom area this afternoon.

The firing incident took place at around 4.30 pm near the Industrial Estate at TM Kasom.

None was injured in the firing that lasted a few hours.

Notably, the Imphal-Ukhrul highway stretch between Litan and TM Kasom has seen several ambushes in the recent past.

At least three civilians have been killed in separate ambushes.

On April 18, 2036, two Tangkhul Naga civilians, including a retired Indian Army soldier, were killed in an ambush carried out by suspected Kuki militants along the stretch.

On April 24, 2026, a team of Chingai police was attacked along the stretch by suspected Kuki militants.

On May 29, 2026, Nitish Kumar Das, a truck driver from Hooghly, West Bengal was killed in an ambush carried out by suspected Kuki militants at the site.

Nitish was transporting FCI rice to Ukhrul when the ambush claimed his life.

TM Kasom is located opposite Yaolen Kuki village with the Thoubal River separating the two.

The ambush site is about 1-2 Km from the New Heaven area of TM Kasom village where security forces are stationed.

Sources said the attack on the vehicles this afternoon came moments after it crossed Litan.

A female passenger who was travelling in a Winger which was part of the convoy said on social media that the attack came immediately after the "escort stopped at Litan" .

"We took an escort to travel from Imphal to Ukhrul.

The escort consisted of one Yodha vehicle and four security personnel.

The moment the escort stopped at Litan, between Leinganching and TM Kasom, multiple rounds of gunfire were directed at moving vehicles.

Our Winger driver had to take cover in the narrow space between the truck bodies and speed away as the firing continued relentlessly," she posted on a social media platform.

"Thankfully, none of us were physically harmed," she said, sharing her ordeal.

"But the emotional turmoil, the disruption of essential logistics, and the fear of travelling and carrying on with our daily lives have reached an unbearable peak.

Who is going to take responsibility for ensuring the safe passage of civilians? Is it the Government's responsibility, or are civilians now simply expected to risk their lives every time they need to travel, work, or access basic necessities? .

"Are we now left to navigate a life-and-death situation just to survive in our own homeland? How long are ordinary civilians expected to live like this?" she asked.

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