A truck driver from West Bengal was killed and a Manipur police constable injured after unidentified gunmen ambushed an escorted goods vehicle on National Highway 202 near TM Kasom village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, officers said on Friday.
The convoy of 13 vehicles, including 10 goods-laden trucks and two oil tankers, was on its way to Ukhrul when armed miscreants reportedly opened fire from a nearby hilltop at around 10 am on Friday.
The deceased truck driver was identified as Nitish Kumar (57), a resident of West Bengal’s Hooghly district, and the injured police constable as Disingam Maringmei (35), a resident of Sangaiprou Kabui Khul village in Imphal West.
Police said Maringmei was injured when security forces retaliated against the ambush. Maringmei, who was posted at Litan police station, sustained bullet injuries to both knees.
Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand expressed strong condemnation and a search and cordon operation has started in nearby areas to nab and punish the culprits as per the law of the land.
