The Wushu team, which won multiple medals in Imphal, said the incident occurred during their return journey, leaving minor athletes traumatised though no injuries were reported.
BY PC Buerau
January 19, 2026: Members of the Rajasthan school Wushu team have alleged that they were extorted at gunpoint by suspected Kuki militants while returning from the 69th National School Games in Manipur, raising serious questions over security and administrative preparedness amid the state’s ongoing ethnic tensions.
The Rajasthan contingent, comprising 52 school-level athletes, including boys and girls, had travelled to Imphal to participate in the Wushu events and delivered a strong performance, with the girls’ team finishing first and the boys’ team securing second place. The team won multiple medals despite competing in a volatile security environment.
According to a parent accompanying the team, the incident occurred during the return journey from Imphal, when armed men allegedly stopped the group, threatened them with firearms and demanded money. The team was reportedly detained for nearly two hours. A video circulated on social media shows a team member recounting the ordeal, claiming weapons were pointed at them during the confrontation. No injuries were reported, but parents said the experience left the minor athletes traumatised.
However, it’s not clear where they were stopped and how they identified that these were Kuki militants. This could be a challenging task for any outsider, because the militants are unlikely to idnetify themselevs. To reach Rajasthan (or most of northern/central India) by train from Imphal, there are two primary feasible railheads due to Manipur’s geography and the ongoing ethnic tensions/road blockades since 2023:
- Jiribam (in Manipur’s Jiribam district, bordering Assam): This is the closest and most direct rail link. The Imphal-Jiribam route (via NH-37) has been a lifeline for goods and people, though heavily secured with convoys due to risks of attacks, extortion, or ambushes by various armed groups. From Jiribam, one can board trains (e.g., toward Guwahati and then connect westward).
- Dimapur (in Nagaland): This involves traveling north via NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway), which passes through mixed Naga/Kuki/Meitei areas and has faced blockades, extortion by militants, and clashes. Dimapur has a major rail station with broader connections.
Both routes are high-risk in the current environment: militants (from Kuki-Zo, Naga, or Meitei-aligned groups) have historically targeted travelers, convoys, or check-posts along these highways for extortion, ambushes, or ethnic targeting.
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The allegations have been amplified on social media by Manipur-based accounts, with users condemning the targeting of out-of-state students and sportspersons. The parent alleged that the group was forced to hand over cash despite identifying themselves as school athletes returning home.
The team also accused event organisers and authorities of serious logistical failures. Only 24 unconfirmed train tickets were reportedly provided for the entire group, forcing athletes to travel in overcrowded, unreserved compartments. Parents said officials deputed to oversee arrangements left Imphal without ensuring the safe departure of the team, including female players. Some parents later booked premium tickets at their own expense to ensure safer travel.
Panacea for Manipur
Where are the nearly 60,000 Indian Army and paramilitary personnel deployed in Manipur?
World Meetei Council (WMC) has repeatedly stated that armed Kuki-Zo groups @KukiInpimanipur @kzc2024 @KUKIINPI1917 are operating with impunity and it is the… pic.twitter.com/T8oaDAcZCi— World Meetei Council (@WorldMeeteiConv) January 19, 2026
There has been no official response so far from Manipur authorities, the School Games Federation of India, or security agencies regarding the allegations. No arrests have been reported in connection with the incident.
The episode comes against the backdrop of continuing ethnic unrest in Manipur, where highway blockades and extortion by armed groups have been repeatedly reported. Civil society members and parents have now demanded an independent inquiry into the alleged extortion, security lapses and administrative failures, warning that such incidents could undermine confidence in hosting national sporting events in conflict-affected regions.
