Correspondent
IMPHAL, May 29: In fresh violence incidents that erupted in Manipur’s restive Ukhrul district on Friday, a truck driver was killed. At least seven people – a police constable and six women – were also injured in a protest against the attack on the truck.
Reports said that the ambush was carried out on a goods vehicle by unknown armed miscreants suspected to be Kuki militants on goods-laden trucks moving toward Ukhrul from Imphal side around 11 am on Friday, killing the driver on the spot and injuring a police constable. It may be noted that NH-202 where the attack took place isa crucial lifeline connecting Imphal with Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
The deceased driver was identified as Nitis Kumar (57) from Hooghly district of West Bengal. He was the driver of truck WB15C/2403 engaged in the transportation of FCI (Food Corporation of India) goods.
The injured policeman was identified as Disingam Mringmei (35), currently posted at Litan police station. With serious bullet injuries, he has been admitted at JNIMS hospital, Imphal, the report added.
The security forces also retaliated resulting in the brief exchange of fire. However, there were no reports of any casualty on the attackers’ side till the time of filing this report.
Friday’s ambush was the third major attack on the civilian vehicles plying along the same highway in the same area since February this year.
Subsequently, A group of women protesters at Shangkai village along the same NH-202 under the same police station who were blocking the stretch of NH-202 to protest the incident, were also injured security forces resorted to firing tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse them.
In one of the ambushes on April 18 last, two civilians, including retired Indian Army personnel, were killed in an ambush by suspected Kuki militants near TM Kasom village along the same highway.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Balla and chief minister Y Khemchand led many in condemning the latest gun violence incidents in Ukhrul district.
The Governor strongly condemned the cowardly ambush on a truck carrying essential commodities along NH-202, which claimed the life of a truck driver and left a police constable injured.
“Such acts of violence are deeply disturbing and serve only to undermine ongoing efforts towards peace, stability and normalcy in the state,” he said, while extending his condolences to the bereaved family, and prayers are offered for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel.
“Necessary measures have been taken in response to the incident, and efforts are underway to bring those responsible to justice, the Governor added.
Chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh also condemned, in the strongest terms, the ambush carried out on the goods-laden vehicles by the unknown armed miscreants.
The chief minister expressed his deepest condolences on the loss of life of a truck driver from West Bengal, who succumbed due to bullet injuries in the said unfortunate incident.
“Ambushing goods vehicle and taking life of a driver, who plays a crucial role in ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential items across the state is one of the most cowardly acts and intends to further aggravate the tense situation prevailing in the area,” the chief minister’s secretariat quoted the chief minister, in a release.
He further stated that the ambush seemed to be carried out by vested interest groups with the ill-motives to derail the initiatives of the state government to restore peace and normalcy in the state.
Singh also prayed for speedy recovery of the police constable, who sustained bullet injury on his knee in the ambush. The release informed that search and cordon operation was being carried out in nearby areas to nab and punish the culprits as per the law of the land.
Meanwhile, MLA Ram Muivah who represents Ukhrul Assembly constituency demanded the chief minister’s intervention on the prevailing situation in the district, particularly regarding the transportation of essential commodities.
The MLA, in a letter widely seen on various social media platforms, alleged that today’s ambush on goods-laden vehicles allegedly was performed by the “Kuki terrorists” despite the presence of security escorts.
“This ambush resulted in the death of one Food Corporation of India (FCI) truck driver and left two others injured,” he stated in the letter that also reminded the chief minister about the killing of two civilians in one of earlier ambushes at TM Kasom on April 18.
He sought an immediate and significant response to protect innocent lives and prevent further escalation of violence from the chief minister.
The circle MLA also highlighted the tense situation arising out of cutting of transportation of essential items in the district due to the disturbances along the NH-202.
He alleged that for almost a month, essential supplies such as FCI rice, petroleum, and LPG cylinders were unable to reach Ukhrul from Imphal due to ongoing attacks, blockades, and ambushes by Kuki militants.
He suggested NH-102A (Dimapur to Ukhrul via Tadubi of Senapati district) as an alternative route for transporting essential goods while asserting that this route is relatively safe from Kuki attacks, with no Kuki villages along its entire stretch.
While raising various demands, the MLA sought to deploy a platoon of state forces, either from Manipur Rifles or the Indian Reserve Battalion, to TM Kasom.