The Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh has strongly condemned the unfortunate and tragic incident in which Constable Mithun Mandal (No. 170801463) of the 170 Battalion, A Company, Border Security Force, was martyred while on patrol duty at Mongkot Chepu in Ukhrul District today, after being struck by a bullet fired from an unknown direction.
“Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the brave jawan succumbed to his injuries at around 6:00 PM at RIMS, Imphal. Hailing from Bhagjan Tola village in West Bengal, Constable Mandal served the nation with unwavering courage, dedication, and a deep sense of duty” posted CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on his social media.
Meanwhile, the Media Cell, Working Committee of TNL in a press release stated that “since the early afternoon of the 10th of April 2026, there has been an indiscriminate firing from Mongkot Chepu towards Sharkaphung, a Tangkhul Naga village under Kamjong District, Manipur. In this wake, a tragic news of a BSF jawan identified as Mithun Mandal, 170 Battalion, A Company, was reportedly hit while on duty in the precinct of Mongkot Chepu during the reckless firing executed by the Kuki SoO cadres, and later succumbed to his injuries in the evening.
“The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) vehemently condemns the killing of a neutral Central force, which had been stationed to bring order and peace in the conflict zone. We express our deepest condolences to his bereaved family and loved ones.
“The TNL also denounces the false news spread by certain individuals of the Kuki community and their CSOs who have, without any proof or evidence, put the blame on the Tangkhul Nagas for such an act of cowardice. The Tangkhul Naga village volunteers, till date, have never targeted the personnel of Central security forces.
“Ever since the outbreak of conflict in the Litan areas, the Kuki SoO cadres and their armed villagers have always been on offensive and renewed aggression against the Tangkhul Naga villagers. The Tangkhul Naga village volunteers have been maintaining restraint all this time and never resorted to any offences from our ends. We only retaliate with enough caution to the unprovoked attacks from the Kuki armed cadres. The presence of Central Force reassured us with a sense of safety and security for the innocent Tangkhul Naga civilians. Our village volunteers are to protect the villages in the conflict zone from repeated attacks being committed by the Kuki armed groups” added the statement issued by the Media Cell, Working Committee, TNL.
On the other hand, the Kuki CSO Working Committee Ukhrul has blamed the Tangkhul. The statement issued by the Department of Information and Media WCKCSOS -Ukhrul stated “a BSF jawan of 170/A has been critically injured in an attack on Mongkot Chepu around 4:50 PM, from Tangkhul militant bunkers located at Sharkaphung @ Sikibung.
“These bunkers have repeatedly been used to launch attacks on Mongkot Chepu, putting both civilians and security forces at constant risk. Despite this, forces on the ground have not retaliated to stop these assaults till date.”
“We urgently call on the government to take immediate and decisive action, ensure sustained security dominance in those active bunkers constructed by the Tangkhul militants, and authorize forces to respond firmly to any armed attack” stated the statement issued by the Department of Information and Media WCKCSOS -Ukhrul
