IMPHAL | Unidentified gunmen allegedly opened fire at a CRPF road opening party along the Imphal-Dimapur highway in Manipur’s Imphal West district on Thursday, while at least five drivers were injured in a separate stone-pelting attack on a security-escorted supply convoy along NH-37.

The firing incident occurred around 5.30 pm in the Khonghampat area under Sekmai police station, when suspected underground operatives allegedly fired at a road opening party of the CRPF’s 152 Battalion from a moving white four-wheeler travelling from Imphal towards Sekmai. The attackers fled the area after the firing.

No security personnel were injured. Imphal West district police subsequently cordoned off the area and secured the site, while Sekmai police registered a case and launched an in vestigation. In the separate NH-37 incident, at least five drivers were injured on Thursday afternoon after a convoy carrying 150 fuel tankers and trucks loaded with essential commodities came under stone-pelting at multiple locations between Jiribam and Imphal.

The convoy was escorted by security forces and was travelling from Jiribam towards Imphal when the attack took place in two phases-first between Awangkhun and Noney and later near Noney bazar. Enforcers of an economic blockade called by the United Naga Council (UNC) have been accused of carrying out the attack.

The UNC announced the blockade from September 9, demanding justice for six Liangmai Naga men allegedly abducted on May 13 and later killed. According to transport union representative Naoroibam Abit, the convoy was stopped near Noney around 1 pm because of the blockade.

It resumed its journey around 3 pm after CRPF personnel assured the drivers of security, but was later subjected to heavy stone-pelting near the Noney bridge. More than 20 vehicles were damaged, while drivers Aheibam Punshiba and Kumukcham Sanatomba, also known as Sanamatum, suffered serious head injuries. Abit also alleged that armed individuals extorted money from vehicles stranded during the incident.

The convoy eventually reached Keithelmanbi, where security personnel arranged medical treatment for the injured drivers at hospitals in Imphal, including CT scans. Following the attack, transport representatives and drivers announced an immediate indefinite “hands-off steering wheel” strike, suspending movement of commercial vehicles.

Maibam Anil, general secretary of the Manipur Road Transport Drivers’ and Motor Workers’ Union, said transport operations would remain suspended until authorities took concrete measures to strengthen road opening parties and reached a formal agreement with the state government and police leadership. NH-37 has remained a key supply route to Imphal after NH-2 was closed on May 17 amid earlier inter-district blockades.