Manipur Police claim “controlled firing” at a fleeing car, but questions remain over whether the use of force was justified in a notified buffer zone. Conflicting accounts from local groups allege an unprovoked attack on Kuki-Zo civilians, deepening mistrust in the region.
BY PC Bureau
April 10, 2026 — Manipur Police are facing mounting scrutiny over both the delayed clarification and the use of force in a shooting incident near Kanglatongbi Bridge in Kangpokpi district, an area considered part of a sensitive buffer zone.
The police issued a detailed statement nearly 24 hours after the April 8 incident—only after the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, called a 24-hour shutdown along National Highway-2. The timing has raised concerns about transparency in a region where delayed information can quickly fuel tensions.
According to the official version, the incident occurred around 9:30 pm when a Chevrolet Cruze carrying three occupants and an Alto with one occupant arrived from opposite directions for what was described as a vehicle exchange and test drive. During the process, the Cruze reportedly slipped into a roadside ditch.
Security personnel stationed at a nearby naka rushed to assist. Police said the accompanying Alto then approached at high speed, ignored repeated signals to stop, and nearly hit personnel on duty. When the vehicle allegedly attempted to flee towards Kangpokpi, security forces fired “controlled rounds aimed at the tyres” to stop it.
The vehicle did not halt, but it was later found that the driver, identified as Lenkhogin Tuboi, had sustained bullet injuries. He was shifted to a hospital in Kangpokpi, where his condition was reported to be stable.
Meanwhile, the driver of the Cruze, 21-year-old Janggingen Khongsai, was detained and later released after formalities. Police have registered an FIR and said the firing was a response to “suspicious behaviour, attempted evasion, and threat to personnel.”
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With reference to the shutdown call on NH-2 by COTU, Manipur Police clarifies the facts regarding the incident of 08/04/2026.
On 08-04-2026 at about 09:30 PM, a Chevrolet Cruze (WB-06C-7444) with 3 occupants and an Alto car with 1 occupant which came from Kangpokpi side and…— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) April 9, 2026
Conflicting Accounts
Initial reports from local groups and CoTU presented a sharply different version, alleging that three Kuki-Zo men were targeted in an unprovoked attack in the Shantipur buffer zone—a designated peace area between communities in Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts.
One individual reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to the arm, requiring surgery. CoTU condemned the incident as a setback to fragile peace efforts and alleged involvement of armed Meitei militants—claims that remain unverified and have been denied by police.
Citing the incident, CoTU enforced a 24-hour shutdown from midnight April 9, demanding accountability. Essential services were exempted.
Key Questions Remain
Despite the police clarification, several critical questions remain unanswered:
- Was firing justified? Critics argue that shooting at a fleeing vehicle—especially in a peace zone—should be a last resort, with alternatives such as alerts or pursuit not clearly explained.
- Was there an immediate threat? The police statement does not indicate any direct attack by the vehicle’s occupants beyond attempting to flee.
- Could panic explain the escape? In conflict-prone areas, civilians often avoid police encounters out of fear, not necessarily criminal intent.
- How was the driver hit? If shots were aimed at tyres, authorities have not clarified how the bullet struck the driver.
- Discrepancies in occupants: While police say the Alto had one occupant, initial community reports claimed three individuals were present.
Fragile Peace Under Strain
The nearly 24-hour delay in issuing a detailed account has drawn criticism for allowing rumours to spread in a state already grappling with deep ethnic divisions since the 2023 clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
Residents in fringe areas have voiced renewed concerns about safety in buffer zones, which were established to prevent further violence but continue to witness sporadic incidents.
CoTU and local groups are now demanding an independent probe, arguing that the episode has undermined fragile trust in the Shantipur–Gamgiphai–Sekmai corridor.
Security forces remain on alert, and while no further violence has been reported, the focus has shifted to the ongoing investigation—and whether the use of force in this case was unavoidable.
As the probe continues, one question persists among locals: if the vehicle was merely fleeing, why were bullets fired at all?
