Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Suspected militants gunned down four Naga civilians on Friday afternoon. The attack took place on the Imphal-Ukhrul road near the New Haven area of Shokvao village. The victims died at the scene. This stretch of NH-102 sits opposite Yaolen Chepu, a Kuki village under the jurisdiction of the Litan police station.
The shooters targeted a Maruti Swift and a Bolero pickup around 1pm. Both vehicles crashed after the occupants came under fire. Kapangkhui Raihing and her son Haoleila Raihing, from Shangshak village, died in the Swift. Siblings August Ngalung and Khanmila Ngalung, from Tashar village, were killed in the Bolero. Local authorities confirmed the recovery of the bodies, noting the victims were shot inside the vehicles.
Police and security forces rushed to the site to clear the scene. Officers transported the bodies to the Ukhrul district hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations. Security teams including state police, the Army, BSF, and Assam Rifles launched search operations to find the attackers. No suspects were in custody as of late Friday.
Ukhrul district has become a dangerous flashpoint. Tensions between Naga and Kuki communities have simmered since February. Authorities previously mandated security escorts for vehicles moving through Kuki-dominated stretches of NH-102, though it remains unclear if these specific cars had protection. This violence follows a string of recent attacks, including a killing and several injuries in Senapati and Ukhrul just one day prior.
Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh recently ordered a review of the state security apparatus. On November 3, he demanded a report on the armed groups driving the chaos. State officials remain under pressure to curb the bloodshed. Local police said, "The circumstances surrounding the attack are under investigation."
Comments