Civil society groups condemn the Litan ambush in Manipur that killed a truck driver and injured a security personnel, raising concerns over highway security.
Imphal, May 29: Several civil society organisations in Manipur on Thursday strongly condemned the ambush attack near Litan along the Imphal-Ukhrul road in which a truck driver transporting essential goods was killed and a security personnel injured.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the Manipur Drivers’ Association (MDA) and the Manipur Federal Organisation (MFO) issued separate statements condemning the incident and questioning the effectiveness of security arrangements along National Highway-202.
The attack took place near Patleizang under Litan Police Station when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a truck transporting rice from Imphal towards Ukhrul. The deceased driver was identified as Nitish Kumar (57), son of Bidas Kumar from Hooghly district of West Bengal. A security personnel identified as Disingam Maringmei (35), son of Meikhenthing from Sangaiprou Kabui village under Litan Police Station, also sustained injuries in the ambush.
In a statement, COCOMI strongly condemned what it termed a “terrorist act” and alleged that despite the conflict continuing in Manipur for more than a year, the public has not witnessed effective measures from either the Union or the State government to control the situation.
The organisation alleged that armed Chin-Kuki groups have continued carrying out attacks, killings and activities violating law and order while authorities have largely limited themselves to issuing temporary statements instead of implementing stronger preventive measures. COCOMI questioned how such an ambush could occur on a route considered highly sensitive and heavily guarded by security forces since the outbreak of the conflict in May 2023.
The organisation said the incident demonstrated that even drivers transporting essential goods under security convoy protection are no longer safe on the highways. It also raised questions regarding accountability of the security personnel deployed in the area and asked whether the incident would simply be treated as an intelligence failure without further action. The statement further observed that there exists a major gap between public perception of the conflict and the response of the government.
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COCOMI also referred to a previous incident at the same location in which three individuals had lost their lives, alleging that repeated attacks indicate serious security loopholes on the part of both the Union and State governments. The organisation urged authorities to take stronger measures to ensure safety of civilians and secure the highways, which remain critical supply routes for the state.
Meanwhile, the Manipur Drivers’ Association also condemned the killing of the truck driver and expressed concern over the safety of drivers transporting essential commodities during the ongoing unrest.
In a press release issued by MDA president Saikhom Babudhon Meitei, the association stated that drivers continue to work under difficult and dangerous conditions to transport food and other essential supplies across the state without discrimination. The association described the killing of the driver as deeply painful and unfortunate.
According to the MDA, the truck carrying rice towards Ukhrul came under attack at around 11 am near Patleizang along National Highway-202. The association stated that targeting drivers transporting essential commodities was inhumane and warned that if drivers stop operating vehicles out of fear, the consequences would affect the entire population.
“If drivers stop driving vehicles, it will be a loss for everyone,” the association said while appealing against repetition of such incidents in the future.
The Manipur Federal Organisation (MFO) also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the state. In its statement, the organisation observed that despite the deployment of a large number of central paramilitary forces across Manipur under the supervision of the Union Home Ministry, incidents of killings and attacks have continued since May 3, 2023.
The MFO stated that security forces have not been able to fully protect civilians or safeguard the national highways, which it described as the lifeline of the state. The organisation noted that prolonged highway blockades have already disrupted transportation of essential commodities from Guwahati to Imphal, leading to goods reportedly remaining stranded on roads for several days.
The MFO appealed to groups enforcing highway blockades to reconsider their actions and explore alternative methods of protest while also acknowledging the hardships faced by drivers. Describing the killing of the FCI driver as a deeply unfortunate incident, the organisation urged the Government of India to take immediate steps against activities threatening public safety and national security.
The MFO also appealed to traders and wholesale shopkeepers not to take undue advantage of the present situation by artificially inflating prices of goods. The organisation requested shopkeepers to display prices fixed by the Manipur government and urged the public to cooperate with authorities during random inspection drives.
The ambush has once again brought attention to security concerns along Manipur’s highways, particularly routes used for transportation of food grains, fuel and other essential commodities amid the prolonged ethnic conflict in the state.
