An ambush on oil and LPG gas tankers by suspected Kuki militants took place on Tuesday morning along NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam Road) between Tollen (Kuki Village) and Santikhunou under Tousem Police station in Tamenglong district around 10.30 am, resulting in at least one sustaining bullet injury and damage to four oil/LPG tankers.
The tankers which were on their way back to Imphal from Jiribam came in a convoy along with CRPF escorts. The bullets damaged the tanks of the trucks, leading to old spills and LPG leaks on the road, endangering the area. Some people were seen collecting the leaked oil in containers.
The injured driver has been identified as one Tularam Magar (35) of Irang Part-2. He sustained bullet injuries to his torso and is currently undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. The driver said that he could not identify the colour of the uniform worn by the Kuki militants as the road was extremely dusty. He ran after his LPG tanker was hit by bullets and he met some CRPF personnel who were on ROP.
As per sources, the driver told them about the firing carried out by Kuki militants on the trucks but they did not take up any action and did not even blanked fire to scare away the militants. He later reached Nungba after he filled the leaks with sticks.
The trucks which leaked gas from the attack are LPG bullet (MN06T-1144) owned by A Tamphamani, driver Khomdram Ramesh of Kanto Khunou, Petrol Tanker (MN06T-0978) owned by Y Bhupendra, Diesel Tanker (MN03D-3214) owned by Tanka Prasad Kharel, ATF Tanker (AS01NC-7615) whose owner is outside Manipur and Diesel Tanker (MN05C-1383) owned by Ch Lokendro, driver Tularam Magar (35) of Irang Part-2. Driver Tularam Magar also sustained bullet injuries on his heel.
According to sources, the convoy of loaded oil/LPG tankers was returning to Imphal under the escort of security personnel when the ambush occurred. Following the attacks, security measures in the area have been intensified, and an investigation has been launched by the authorities to apprehend the culprits responsible for the ambush.
In the wake of the ambush, panic buying of petrol and diesel has been observed at petrol pumps in the valley districts of Manipur. Tousem police station registered a case on the incident.
This surge in demand is due to fears of a possible cease-work strike by transporters. Long queues of vehicles, primarily four-wheelers, have been seen at petrol pumps, with lines extending up to more than 100 metres.
Despite these concerns, there has been no official confirmation of the transporters calling for a cease-work strike, as of the filing of this report. Authorities are continuing their efforts to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the ambush, assuring that adequate security measures are in place to ensure public safety.
In view of the public resorting to panic buying of fuel, the CAF and PD Department urged the public to purchase only for their daily needs and not to resort to panic buying. There is sufficient stock of petrol and diesel in the state and there will be no shortage of stock of petrol and diesel, said a release issued by director of CAF and PD Robertson Asem. The release also directed all petrol pumps to open as usual. Meanwhile, condemnation had been raised from various civil bodies against the ambush on the tankers.
The Youth’s Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) issued a statement, denouncing the attack on trucks transporting essential and flammable goods along the National Highway as a “cowardly act.”
The release emphasised the need for the perpetrators to be apprehended and punished in accordance with the rule of law. Similarly, the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) has voiced its condemnation of the attack.
They have called upon the central government to take full responsibility for the recurrent disruptions on the National Highways, which are crucial lifelines for Manipur.
