Tangkhul Naga body warns of strong response after ambush kills two civilians on Imphal-Ukhrul road

Tension escalated in Manipur after two civilians, including a former Army personnel, were killed in an ambush along National Highway 202, allegedly by suspected Kuki militants. The attack has drawn sharp condemnation from the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), which warned of a strong response.

 

Addressing the media at a district hospital in Ukhrul, TNL president Sword Vashum said the deaths would not be in vain and indicated that the organisation would act in response to the killings. He described the incident as a “brutal and cold-blooded” attack on unarmed civilians.

 

Vashum announced that an emergency assembly of the Tangkhul Long would be convened shortly to determine the next course of action. He stated that the community would collectively decide how to respond to what he termed a targeted attack on Tangkhul people.

 

The TNL also blamed both the state and central governments for failing to ensure adequate security along vulnerable routes. Vashum said repeated appeals for stronger protection of civilians had gone unaddressed, and the latest incident highlighted serious lapses in maintaining law and order.

 

The organisation demanded immediate and concrete steps from authorities to prevent further violence in the district. It also expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and assured them of continued support.

 

The ambush took place on April 18 between Litan and TM Kasom along the Imphal–Ukhrul road, a day after Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited Ukhrul. The timing of the attack has added to concerns over security preparedness in the region.