Evidence of rampant extortion on NH-37 comes to light

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 12 : Evidence of armed men collecting huge amounts of money from trucks and tankers on the highway has surfaced yet again, revealing serious lapses in security measures amid the violent conflict in Manipur.
An amount between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000 is collected based on the goods a truck or tanker is carrying. Some vehicles are even charged more than Rs 10,000, sources said.
Interestingly, these "illegal taxes" are collected from vehicles being escorted by security forces on National Highway-37.
The money is collected from vehicles in between vehicles of security forces. A convoy escorted by security forces consists of around 150 loaded goods vehicles.
A video, The Sangai Express has acquired, shows a man taking money from the driver of a truck on NH-37. Shortly later, a second person armed with what appears to be an assault rifle appears. Both men are then seen approaching another vehicle to collect money before the video ends abruptly.
This latest incident of armed men collecting taxes on the highway surfaced weeks after news of similar incidents made headlines in April and May this year.
In April 2026, cadres of SoO militant group Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) were found collecting Rs 3000 each from vehicles on Imphal-Dimapur road. Even receipts bearing "Kuki Revolutionary Army, KNO/KRA Vehicles Department" and the name "Mexson," indicated as Finance Minister KNO/KRA were issued to the drivers.
Weeks later in May 2026, evidence of Kuki men extorting money from vehicles surfaced yet again after a transaction made on Google Pay platform became public.
The Google Pay receipt had shown that a transaction of Rs 5,000 was made to one Khaiminsei Haokip with the UPI ID khaikengxxx@oksxxx.
Meanwhile, the sources in touch with this paper said multiple armed groups continue to extort money from vehicles on NH-37 in absence of serious security measures.
Most of the activities take place in areas under Noney, Nungba, Kaimai, Nungkao, Oinamlong and Kaiphundai etc.
The amount of the "tax" differs from one group to another. The drivers have no choice but to pay the money they ask, said the sources.
While the news of armed men extorting money or collecting illegal "taxes" is not new, now even police have been accused of taking money from drivers on the highway.
Money from loaded trucks and tankers are also collected at police "gates" after recording vehicle registration numbers and mobile numbers of drivers, the sources claimed.
The extortion activities that have surfaced point to serious lapses with the security forces in ensuring safe passage of vehicles. Reintroducing mobile security forces' patrol teams as done in recent times could help check such activities, said the sources.
While the Director General of Police had recently visited Noney Police Headquarters on July 7 and instructed the district police to strengthen law enforcement measures, curb extortion activities and ensure safe passage of vehicles on the NH-37, there is no change on the ground yet, said the sources.
Enhancing and strengthening security escorts and deploying proper road opening parties (ROPs) may help check illegal activities on the highway, the sources added.