Manipur security forces act to restore peace after fatal ambush on firewood collectors
Police and paramilitary units have intensified search operations and secured Imphal after an attack left two dead, four injured and three missing.
Security forces and local authorities in Manipur moved swiftly on Monday to secure the Imphal valley and surrounding hill borders after an ambush on a group of firewood collectors left two men dead and four others injured.
The incident took place around 7 am at Khongbal Sunurok Uyok in Kangpokpi district, situated a few metres from Nongshum village in Imphal East. A group of 16 villagers had entered the nearby forested hills to gather firewood when suspected militants opened fire on them.
Police identified the two victims as Arubam Ronil, aged 35, and Lairenlakpam Inaobi, aged 51. Four others sustained gunshot wounds during the attack, with one of the injured, Ksh Deven, reported to be in serious condition. Three other members of the group remain unaccounted for as security personnel carry out search and rescue operations in the surrounding forest area.
Casualties from Monday forest attack
| Category | Count | Primary status | Location / Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | 2 | Arubam Ronil (35), Lairenlakpam Inaobi (51) | Bodies taken to JNIMS Hospital |
| Injured | 4 | Receiving medical treatment | Ksh Deven reported in serious condition |
| Missing | 3 | Under search operation | Forest area near Khongbal Sunurok Uyok |
| Total in group | 16 | Accounted for or under search | Local firewood collectors |
Following the attack, a group of demonstrators brought the bodies of the victims to Babupara in Imphal, seeking to protest outside Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh's residence. Security forces posted at the bungalow acted quickly to control the crowd, firing tear gas rounds to disperse the demonstration and prevent any escalation.
The bodies were subsequently transferred to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) for post-mortem procedures. Joint search operations by state police and central paramilitary units are underway across the border areas of Imphal East and Kangpokpi to track down the perpetrators and locate the missing villagers.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | 2 | Manipur Police |
| Injured collectors | 4 | Manipur Police |
| Missing collectors | 3 | Manipur Police |
| Group size | 16 | Local officials |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Lairenlakpam Inaobi | 51-year-old firewood collector killed in the attack. |
| Kangpokpi district | District location where the ambush occurred. |
| Arubam Ronil | 35-year-old firewood collector killed in the attack. |
| Imphal East district | District bordering the location of the attack. |
