Civilians held captive, fresh tension in Manipur’s Ukhrul

Fresh tension gripped Manipur’s Ukhrul district after unidentified men reportedly held some 20 civilians captive on Wednesday (March 11, 2026).

According to preliminary reports, the civilians included members of a marriage party. They were travelling in a passenger vehicle and two private cars, which were stopped at Shangkai village along National Highway 202, also called the Ukhrul-Imphal Road.

The mobile phones of the passengers were allegedly confiscated by their captors, heightening the anxiety of their family members.

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The village is within the jurisdiction of the Litan police station. The Litan area witnessed violence and arson in February after an assault case involving Kuki and Naga tribal men.

Expressing “profound concern” over the situation along the Ukhrul-Imphal Road, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh directed senior police and administrative officials to secure the release of the civilians and keep the situation in the district under control.

He also appealed to all civil society organisations and stakeholders to help maintain calm, and urged those responsible for the latest incident to “uphold the highest traditions of humanity and ensure the safe and unconditional release of all the civilians at the earliest”.

The Chief Minister assured the families of the victims and the people of the State that the government was taking the matter seriously, and would take all necessary steps to book the culprits involved in the act.