Four Tangkhul Naga civilians were shot dead on Friday in an ambush by armed men along National Highway 202 in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. The victims were travelling toward Imphal when their vehicles were intercepted at New Heaven, a location situated along the route connecting the state capital with Ukhrul. According to police, the victims were on their way to join a government-provided security escort at Litan.
The deceased were identified as Kapangkhui Raihing and her son Haoleila Raihing, along with siblings August Ngalung and Khanmila Ngalung, according to The Times of India. Hindustan Times reported the victims as Kapangkhui RS and Haoleila RS from Shangshak village, and August Ngalung and Khanmila Keishing from Tashar village. All four died on the spot after suffering fatal bullet injuries.
Manipur Police stated that the attack was carried out by “unknown armed miscreants.” While The Times of India reported the incident as a suspected sniper strike, Hindustan Times noted that officials suspected the involvement of Kuki militants. Additional forces, including the Manipur Police, Border Security Force (BSF), the Army, and Assam Rifles, have been deployed to the area to conduct search operations and track the perpetrators.
The ambush occurred amid heightened tensions in the region. A day prior to the attack, a 42-year-old Kuki woman was killed in crossfire between gunmen from her community and suspected Naga militants along the Senapati-Kangpokpi border. In a separate incident following that killing, a Naga man was wounded by gunfire in Ukhrul. At least 66 people have died in Kuki-Naga clashes since February, while the broader Meitei-Kuki conflict has resulted in over 300 fatalities since May 2023.
Key facts
- The victims were travelling in two separate vehicles when they were ambushed at New Heaven village.
- The attack took place on November 13, 2026, on NH-202.
- Security reinforcements including the Army, BSF, and Assam Rifles were dispatched to the site of the shooting.
- The location of the ambush has seen previous violence, with two Naga civilians killed at the same spot on April 18.
Why it matters
The incident has triggered competing allegations between community groups. The Indigenous People’s Forum accused “Kuki narco-terrorist elements” of waging a war against indigenous people and called for an impartial probe into potential security force negligence. Conversely, the Kuki CSO Working Committee condemned the killings while denying community involvement and warning against collective blame. Congress legislature party chief Keisham Meghachandra has publicly criticized the state government's handling of the situation, stating that peace cannot be achieved without justice and a clear roadmap for conflict resolution.
Background
Travel along the Imphal-Ukhrul route is frequently restricted to government-monitored security convoys through a 20-kilometre stretch deemed sensitive by authorities.
Source: Times of India, Hindustan Times
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