Manipur: Attack on Funeral Service and Convoy Leaves One Dead

On May 29, 2026, villagers of TM Kasom (Roudei) in Manipur's Ukhrul district alleged that armed Kuki militants from the nearby Patleijang area attacked mourners during a funeral service. The funeral was for an elderly villager who had passed away from a kidney-related illness. Gunfire reportedly erupted near the cemetery, causing panic among those attending the service. Local accounts suggest that security forces present did not intervene. Coinciding with the funeral service incident, a truck driver was killed and a Manipur Police constable was injured in a separate ambush on a convoy of civilian vehicles. The convoy, carrying Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice, was en route from Imphal to Ukhrul along National Highway 202 (NH-202). The truck driver was identified as Nitish Das, a 65-year-old from Hooghly district, West Bengal. The attack on the convoy occurred near TM Kasom village, and police reports indicate that armed Kuki militants positioned in the Patleijang hill area were responsible. Security forces, including BSF, CRPF, and police, were escorting approximately 15 to 20 commercial trucks when they came under fire. This incident is part of a broader pattern of escalating ethnic violence in Manipur, which has been experiencing inter-community conflict, primarily between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, since May 2023. The violence has also involved clashes between the Naga and Kuki communities in Ukhrul district. The Ukhrul region, in particular, has seen sporadic incidents of violence, including ambushes on highways and attacks on villages. Following the May 29 incidents, security forces launched search operations and area domination exercises in the region to apprehend those responsible. The Manipur Police stated that the attack on the convoy was carried out by "armed Kuki militants" from the Patleijang hill area. In a related development, a section of NH-202 near Shangkai Kuki village was found dug up, allegedly by Kuki villagers to disrupt vehicular movement. Authorities have not yet released an official statement confirming the details of the funeral service attack. The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur has led to significant loss of life, displacement, and destruction of property since May 2023. As of August 31, 2026, over 306 people had been killed and 49 remained missing in the state due to the violence. The situation remains tense, with security forces maintaining a vigilant presence in affected areas. The article from Ukhrul Times highlights the alleged attack during the funeral service and mentions the simultaneous killing of a truck driver. It reports that villagers of TM Kasom alleged armed Kuki militants from Patleijang attacked mourners. It also states that a truck driver was shot dead transporting essential commodities along NH-202 on the same day. Authorities had yet to issue an official statement at the time of reporting. Other sources corroborate the attack on the funeral service and the killing of the truck driver, linking both incidents to alleged Kuki militants from Patleijang. The broader context of ethnic violence in Manipur is crucial for understanding these incidents. The conflict primarily involves the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, with spillover effects on other ethnic groups like the Nagas. The Ukhrul district, predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga community, has been a focal point of these inter-ethnic tensions and clashes. News reports from April 2026 also detail ambushes and killings in Ukhrul district involving alleged militants and the Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities. For instance, an ambush on April 18, 2026, near Yaolen Kuki village resulted in the deaths of two Tangkhul Naga men, including a retired soldier, with the Tangkhul Naga Long blaming Kuki armed groups. Similarly, on April 24, 2026, three people were killed in separate firing incidents in Ukhrul district involving armed groups from rival tribal communities, with the Tangkhul Naga Long alleging Kuki cadres were involved in the death of a Naga Village Guard. These recurring incidents underscore the volatile security situation in Manipur, particularly in the Ukhrul district, and the persistent ethnic tensions that continue to fuel violence. The attacks on civilians, including during a funeral service and on a transport convoy, highlight the critical need for a sustained peace process and effective security measures. The fact that both incidents occurred on the same day and were allegedly perpetrated by the same group (Kuki militants) suggests a coordinated effort to sow fear and disrupt normalcy. The ongoing ethnic strife has had devastating consequences for the region, displacing thousands and claiming hundreds of lives since its escalation in May 2023.

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