Imphal: A Kuki-owned Bolero pickup was allegedly hijacked from Mayangkhang Thangal village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district and later set ablaze in Senapati district near the Nagaland border, according to the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Sadar Hills.
The vehicle, owned by Lamtinchon Chongloi, a daily wage earner, was reportedly taken by armed individuals and driven to Senapati, where it was torched. The KSO condemned the incident as a “heartless and barbaric” act, saying it had further damaged the livelihood of a family already facing financial hardship.
The student body linked the incident to the economic difficulties currently affecting Kangpokpi district amid the three-month-old economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC).
The KSO said Kuki communities have not imposed any counter-blockade, allowing Naga residents in Kangpokpi to continue accessing essential commodities without disruption.
The organisation urged authorities to identify and arrest those responsible for the vehicle hijacking and arson and ensure that Chongloi receives adequate financial compensation for his loss.
The KSO also warned that continued inaction by the authorities could further undermine peace in the region and called for immediate intervention to prevent the situation from escalating.