Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A truck driver from West Bengal was killed after unidentified armed men ambushed a goods convoy on National Highway 202 in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Friday, police said. A police constable was also injured in the exchange of fire that followed the attack and was shifted to a hospital in Imphal for treatment.
The incident occurred in an area that has witnessed heightened tensions between Naga and Kuki groups in recent weeks, prompting security forces to intensify operations in the region. Police have launched a search operation to trace those responsible for the ambush.
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The incident took place on Friday forenoon between Leingangching and TS Kasom under the jurisdiction of Litan Police Station in Ukhrul district. According to officials, the goods vehicle came under attack from unknown gunmen, resulting in the death of the driver, who succumbed to bullet injuries. A police constable accompanying the vehicle also sustained a gunshot wound to the knee and is undergoing treatment.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over security and the fragile law-and-order situation in the state, which has witnessed prolonged ethnic tensions and sporadic violence over the past several months.
Condemning the incident, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh described the ambush as a cowardly act aimed at disrupting peace efforts in the state. Expressing condolences to the family of the deceased driver, the chief minister said truck drivers play a crucial role in maintaining the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities across Manipur.
“Ambushing a goods vehicle and taking the life of a driver who ensures the supply of essential items is one of the most cowardly acts and appears intended to aggravate the tense situation prevailing in the area,” he said.
The chief minister further alleged that the attack appeared to have been carried out by vested interest groups seeking to derail the state government’s initiatives to restore peace and normalcy.
Security forces have launched extensive search and cordon operations in nearby areas to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack. Officials said efforts are underway to track down the perpetrators and ensure that strict action is taken against them in accordance with the law.
The chief minister also wished the injured police constable a speedy recovery and assured that the government would take all necessary steps to bring the culprits to justice.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
