The Manipur government transferred Kamjong SP Tholu Rocky to the Police Training Centre and appointed IPS officer Jay Barange as his successor, as security forces stepped up deployment following the violence.
BY PC Bureau
October 18, 2026: Violence continued in Manipur Kamjong district on Sunday, with a Nepalese couple sustaining bullet injuries in an ambush on National Highway 202, a day after a Kuki civilian was killed and at least 15 houses were set ablaze in Chassad village.
Sandip Dahal, 35, and his wife, Bepanah Dahal, 29, residents of Charhajare in Kangpokpi district, were travelling in a Maruti Suzuki Baleno when unidentified armed men opened fire at around 11.45 am between Mahadev and Guwaltabi villages along the Imphal–Nagaland route via Ukhrul, officials said.
Both sustained minor bullet injuries below their knees. They were taken to a nearby Army hospital, where they received first aid and were discharged after treatment, officials said.
The shooting came amid escalating tensions in Manipur following Saturday’s attack in Chassad village, where suspected militants allegedly killed Kuki civilian Seikhohao Haokip and injured four others, including village leaders. At least 15 houses belonging to Kuki residents were subsequently set on fire, forcing families to flee to nearby forests and an Army camp.
A joint column of the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force and Kamjong Police has been deployed in the affected area amid concerns over further violence and the safety of civilians.
Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen strongly condemned the killing and arson, expressing grief over Haokip’s death and concern for families displaced by the violence.
Describing the burning of houses as an intolerable crime, Kipgen said she had directed the district administration, state police and security forces to maintain round-the-clock vigilance, protect civilian lives and property, and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
The fresh shooting on NH-202 has added to concerns over civilian security in the district, with the attacks raising fears of further escalation along a strategically important route connecting Manipur with Nagaland.
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Kamjong SP transferred amid security concerns
In a separate development, the Manipur government on Sunday ordered the transfer of Kamjong Superintendent of Police Tholu Rocky to the Manipur Police Training Centre (MPTC), where he will serve as assistant director.
Jay Barange, an IPS officer who was serving as Additional Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) in Imphal West, has been appointed the new SP of Kamjong with immediate effect, according to the government order.
The transfer comes as Kamjong faces renewed security challenges following the killing, arson and attack on the couple. The government order did not specify whether the transfer was directly connected to the recent incidents.
With a joint security deployment in place, authorities face the immediate task of preventing further attacks, securing vulnerable villages and ensuring that displaced families can return safely to their homes.
