Conflicting narratives have emerged, with local Kuki groups alleging militant bunker involvement, while officials cite an “unknown direction” of fire.
BY PC Bureau
April 10, 2026 — A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed on Friday evening after being hit by a bullet while on patrol in the volatile Mongkot Chepu area under Litan Police Station in Manipur’s Ukhrul district.
The deceased has been identified as Constable (GD) Mithun Mandal of the 170 Battalion, BSF, a resident of Bhagjan Tola village in Malda district of West Bengal.
According to initial reports and a statement by Manipur Chief Minister Yumam Khemchand Singh, the incident occurred around 4:30–4:50 pm during a routine patrol. Mandal sustained a bullet injury—reportedly to the upper body—after firing from an “unknown direction.”
READ: Manipur: Kuki Body Does It Again— Tough Talk, Swift Retreat
Local villagers administered first aid and CPR before he was rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal. Despite efforts by doctors, he succumbed to his injuries around 6 pm.
Manipur Police termed the incident “unprovoked firing” by militants and said search operations and area domination exercises have been launched to track down those responsible. The Chief Minister condemned the killing, describing it as a “tragic martyrdom” and paying tribute to Mandal as a “brave son of West Bengal.”
Conflicting Claims Emerge
The incident has triggered competing narratives in a region already strained by ethnic tensions.
A statement issued by a Kuki civil society group alleged that the jawan was injured in firing originating from suspected militant bunkers in nearby Tangkhul-dominated areas. The statement identified multiple locations allegedly used as firing positions and called for immediate action to dismantle such structures.
However, official statements from the state government and police have not attributed the attack to any specific group, maintaining that the bullet came from an unidentified direction.
Strongly condemn the tragic martyrdom of Constable Mithun Mandal (170 Bn, BSF), who was fatally injured by a bullet from an unknown direction while on patrol at Mongkot Chepu, Ukhrul today. He succumbed at RIMS, Imphal.
A brave son of West Bengal, his sacrifice in the line of… pic.twitter.com/iwolwbwrN7
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) April 10, 2026
Tensions in a Fragile Zone
The Mongkot Chepu–Litan belt has witnessed repeated incidents of firing and clashes in recent weeks, linked to ongoing tensions between Kuki-Zo and Tangkhul Naga groups. Security forces had reportedly conducted operations to dismantle bunkers in the area earlier this week.
Mandal’s death underscores the risks faced by central forces deployed in Manipur, where sporadic violence continues despite relative lulls since the 2023 ethnic clashes.
Tributes and Ongoing Investigation
Security forces and officials have paid homage to the slain jawan, while investigations continue to determine the exact source of the firing and identify those responsible.
The incident is likely to intensify demands for stronger security measures in vulnerable areas, even as authorities work to prevent further escalation in an already tense region.
Mandal’s mortal remains are expected to be taken to his native village in West Bengal for last rites.
