Ukhrul, April 25, 2026: The Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has strongly condemned what it described as reckless actions by personnel of the Assam Rifles that allegedly left two civilians critically injured in Ukhrul district of Manipur.
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| Women volunteers gather on the road as an Assam Rifles vehicle moves through a village area in Ukhrul district amid tensions over the reported incident. |
In a press communiqué issued on April 25, TNL stated that the incident occurred at Talui, Hoomi and Vokngayar (Hoomi) areas along the Ukhrul–Tadubi road. According to the statement, two civilians — Rose Vashum (47) of Talui village and Mashunphong Zingkhai (32) of Hoomi village — sustained serious injuries during the incident.
The organisation claimed that around 9:15 am on Saturday, women volunteers at Hoomi Vokngayar stopped two vehicles - a Bolero Jeep and a van - carrying eight Assam Rifles personnel to verify their identities amid the sensitive situation in the district. The volunteers reportedly asked the personnel to show their identification cards while waiting for members of the TNL Working Committee to arrive for further verification.
TNL alleged that while verification was ongoing, a Casspir vehicle belonging to the Assam Rifles later drove past a civil barricade set up by villagers at Talui, forcing women volunteers to disperse. During the incident, Rose Vashum reportedly sustained severe head injuries and was later referred to Imphal for advanced medical treatment.
The statement further alleged that as the security personnel proceeded towards Hoomi Vokngayar, they fired shots to disperse another gathering of women volunteers. During the firing, Mashunphong Zingkhai reportedly suffered a bullet injury to the side of his head and was undergoing surgery.
The organisation criticised the conduct of the Assam Rifles, claiming it had heightened fear and distrust among local residents in Naga-inhabited areas. TNL also demanded that security forces refrain from moving within Tangkhul areas without prior information to civil society organisations.
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Calling the incident unacceptable, the Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long demanded immediate criminal action against the commander and personnel involved in the alleged attempt on the lives of civilians.
The organisation also stated that the patience of the Tangkhul Naga community has been strained by what it termed repeated atrocities by Indian security forces operating under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).
