The attack occurred shortly after security forces withdrew their escort near Litan. Passengers said they scrambled for cover as gunfire continued. The latest firing has renewed concerns over civilian safety on the Imphal-Ukhrul highway in Manipur, where two Tangkhul Naga civilians were killed in an ambush in April.
By PC Bureau
November 4: Passengers travelling between Imphal and Ukhrul came under fire on Wednesday evening after unidentified gunmen opened fire on a convoy of passenger vehicles and a goods truck on National Highway-202 in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. No injuries were reported, but the attack triggered panic among commuters.
The firing took place around 4:45 pm near TM Kasom village, along the stretch between Leingangching and TM Kasom. The vehicles, including a Winger, were travelling from Imphal towards Ukhrul.
According to local media reprots, passengers said security forces had escorted the vehicles up to Litan before withdrawing. Gunmen opened fire shortly after the escort left. The firing reportedly continued intermittently until around 6 pm.
Some accounts suggested that the shots came from the direction of Yaolen Chepu, a nearby Kuki hamlet. This could not be independently confirmed. BSF posts are located in the vicinity.
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Passengers said they scrambled for cover as several rounds were fired at the moving vehicles. In one account shared on social media, a Winger driver described ducking into the narrow space between two trucks before speeding away under fire.
A passenger said the security escort comprised one Yodha vehicle and four personnel. Questions were also raised over the response of security forces stationed nearby, with passengers alleging that they did not intervene effectively or return fire.
Although no passenger was injured, the incident has renewed concerns over the safety of civilians and the movement of passengers and essential supplies along the Imphal-Ukhrul highway.
TM Kasom and its surrounding stretch have emerged as a sensitive point for civilian traffic. The route is used by passenger vehicles and goods carriers, making security along this corridor important for the movement of people and essential supplies.
The area has witnessed deadly violence before. On April 18, 2026, two Tangkhul Naga civilians were killed in an ambush on the highway near TM Kasom. The November 4 firing has renewed concerns over the safety of commuters on this stretch. The recurrence of armed attacks has also raised questions about the effectiveness of security arrangements along the Imphal-Ukhrul road.
Wednesday’s attack has once again exposed the security challenges on the road connecting Imphal with Ukhrul, where commuters remain vulnerable to armed attacks.
