Vehicles 'looted' at Shangkai, Mahadev Hill

Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, Jul 27 : In a brazen act of highway rob-bery, around 40 commercial and private vehicles tra-velling along the Imphal- Ukhrul National Highway (NH-202) were reportedly stopped, and looted at Shangkai Kuki village and Mahadev Hill in plain sight of security forces.
The incidents occurred in broad daylight even though security escorts were deployed along the Yaingang- pokpi-Litan stretch of NH-202.
According to reports received by this correspon- dent, several belongings of civilian travellers were also set on fire at Shangkai Kuki village by volunteers enforcing the "counter economic blockade" called by a Kuki organisation.
According to the Ukhrul Postmaster, a mail van carrying postal consignments for Ukhrul, Somdal and Kamjong post offices was intercepted, and all the mail bags were confiscated and set on fire.
The Ukhrul Post Office lost 32 mail bags, comprising 23 parcel bags, two speed post bags, three ordinary mail bags and two registered letter bags.
The Somdal Post Office lost four bags, which included one parcel bag, two speed post bags and one ordinary mail bag.
One mail bag belonging to the Kamjong Post Office was also destroyed by the Kuki miscreants.
Altogether, 37 mail bags were confiscated at Shang-kai Kuki village and later set on fire by Kuki volunteers enforcing the counter economic blockade.
The Ukhrul Post Office has lodged an FIR at Litan police station in connection with the confiscation and destruction of the postal consignments.
The Ukhrul Postmaster stated that the parcels contained personal packages and important documents, including ATM cards, certificates and passports, besides food items, clothes and other essential goods.
He further informed that mail services in Ukhrul district have been suspended indefinitely until further instructions are received from higher authorities.
It may be mentioned that passengers travelling along the approximately 10-km stretch between Mahadev and Litan have raised concerns over the safety of the route, citing previous incidents of ambushes in which civilians and security personnel were killed by Kuki militants and their associates.
According to passengers, the confiscation of goods took place in the presence of a security convoy deployed along the highway.
Meanwhile, the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has urged an immediate halt to the  anti-social activities, including the stopping of vehicles and confiscation of belongings along the Imphal-Ukhrul road (National Highway).
In a statement, the TNL said that several commercial and private vehicles travelling along the Ukhrul-Imphal road with security escort were forcefully stopped at Shangkai Kuki village and Mahadev Hill at around 9.15 am by Kuki villagers in collusion with militant groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact, and their belongings were confiscated.
The Tangkhul Naga group further said that the incidents took place in the presence of security personnel deployed on ROP duty.
Questioning the role of security forces and the authorities in preventing such incidents, the TNL asked why the security forces deployed as escort personnel and on ROP duty were unable to ensure the safety and security of commuters and their belongings.
Why did the security personnel present at the locations fail to intervene while vehicles were being stopped and belongings were taken away and burned by the Kuki miscreants?, it further asked
Further questioning what preventive measures were taken by the district administration after the announcement of the "counter economic blockade" by the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, the TNL accused the State Government of not taking action against the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul which is involved in a 'series of crime along the NH 202.
It also asked why the State Government is silent on the demand to abrogate the SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups.
The TNL called for immediate steps to ensure the safety of commuters and restore normal movement along the highway.
Over 40 commercial and private vehicles were stopped at the two locations by Kuki individuals enforcing the "counter economic blockade" announced by the "self styled' Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, which came into effect from midnight on July 26, 2026, it said.
The TNL said that belongings, including important documents, cash, clothes and groceries, were forcibly taken away and looted, while some items were burned.
It was unfortunate to witness another provocative and unacceptable act by the 'migrant Kukis', TNL said.
Stating that the predicament faced by the Kuki community is a consequence of their own actions, TNL claimed that Kukis survive on the "ancestral land" of Nagas at the mercy of Nagas.
The TNL stated that humanitarian assistance could have been extended to address the hardships faced by the Kuki community through peaceful and cooperative means as fellow members of the Christian community.
However, it alleged that the imposition of a "counter blockade" by the Kukis against the Tangkhul Nagas was a challenge to their rights and interests.
The organisation asserted that the counter blockade along NH-202 should be withdrawn at the earliest to ensure the free movement of people and essential goods.