The deceased were named as 45-year-old Chinaoshang Shokhungnanao, a resident of Tashar village and son of ex-Naga Regiment soldier Ruichumhao Shokhungnanao, and 42-year-old Yaruingam Washum from Kharasom, son of Thuimi Washum. They were part of a group of travelers, including vulnerable passengers like women and children, en route from Imphal to Ukhrul when gunmen with advanced arms, including snipers, opened fire on six vehicles.

The Tangkhul Naga Long working committee issued a scathing statement, attributing the ambush to Kuki insurgents operating under a controversial ceasefire pact. They lambasted state and central security outfits for their ‘criminal negligence,’ which they claim has allowed militants to operate freely. ‘Immediate raids in Kuki areas are non-negotiable,’ the group demanded.

This tragedy strikes hard on the heels of CM N. Biren Singh’s recent Ukhrul tour, during which he vowed to bolster patrols along the vital highway. Naga outfits dismissed these pledges as hollow, calling for accountability.

Contrarily, the Kuki-Jo Council rejected accusations, positing that intra-Naga feuds could be at play. ‘Rushing to judgment harms peace efforts,’ they cautioned, advocating patience pending a full probe.

With elite forces now combing the area, Manipur braces for fallout. The killings underscore the urgent need for dialogue to prevent a full-blown ethnic war.