At least 35 postal bags carrying ATM cards, passports, and other critical documents were destroyed on Monday, 28 July 2025, after a Department of Posts vehicle was allegedly set ablaze by unidentified attackers on the Yaingangpokpi-Litan Road in Manipur's Ukhrul district, officials confirmed. The attack has disrupted essential postal services for residents across multiple sub-districts and deepened tensions in the hill district.

What Happened on the Highway

Ukhrul Sub-Post Office Postmaster Wungreipam Rimai said unidentified miscreants intercepted and torched the postal vehicle near Shangkai Kuki village on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2). Of the 35 bags destroyed, 30 were destined for Ukhrul, four for Somdal, and one for Kamjong.

'The Department of Posts is assessing the extent of the damage and taking necessary steps to restore services and assist the affected customers,' Rimai said in a video statement.

What the FIR Reveals

According to police, an FIR has been registered under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complainant, who had joined a convoy escort team on 27 July to transport postal and courier consignments from Yaingangpokpi to Ukhrul, stated that upon reaching Shangkai village, all vehicles were stopped and checked by Kuki volunteers.

The complainant alleged that armed individuals forcibly boarded the postal vehicle and compelled him at gunpoint to drive further ahead. 'During this time, some security personnel inquired about our destination. The armed individuals threatened me by pressing a gun against my thigh and instructed me to remain silent,' the complainant stated in the FIR. He alleged the attackers told security forces they were only offloading courier items.

Tangkhul Naga Long Alleges Wider Blockade

The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), an apex organisation of the Tangkhul Naga tribe community, alleged in a statement that more than 40 commercial and private vehicles were intercepted at two locations — Shangkai Kuki village and Mahadev Hill — by Kuki groups allegedly enforcing an illegal 'Counter Economic Blockade' called by the self-styled Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, with effect from the midnight of 26 July.

The TNL further alleged that these activities were carried out in the presence of security personnel on Reconnaissance and Observation Post (ROP) duty, and that the groups were allegedly acting in collusion with militants operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. 'The belongings of the passengers, including valuable documents, cash, clothes, and groceries, were forcibly looted and burnt, while the looters took away several other items,' the TNL statement alleged.

Impact on Residents and Public Services

NH-2 is a critical arterial road linking Mokokchung in Nagaland with Imphal in Manipur, making it a lifeline for hill districts. The destruction of passports and ATM cards has left a large number of residents unable to access essential documents and banking facilities, compounding the humanitarian impact of an already volatile situation.

The postmaster confirmed the matter has been reported to security and law enforcement agencies, which have been requested to conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate legal action. With tensions rising and an FIR now registered, the focus shifts to whether security forces present on ROP duty will face accountability questions — and whether the blockade will be lifted before further disruptions occur.