“We Want Peace!” Civil society groups and tribal leaders rally in New Kaiphundai, demanding the immediate release of an abducted driver and warning of the grave threat to regional stability.
BY PC Bureau
Imphal: Panic gripped Manipur’s Tamenglong district as armed militants brazenly abducted a truck driver in broad daylight—right under the nose of central security forces. The shocking incident unfolded in the New Kaiphundai area along NH-37, a critical lifeline that links Imphal to Silchar via Jiribam.
Despite being escorted by CRPF personnel, the truck, laden with essential goods, was stopped and its driver seized by unidentified gunmen. The abduction sent shockwaves across the region, igniting widespread protests and demands for immediate action.
As rescue operations entered Day Two, Manipur Police, backed by central forces, scoured dense terrains and fringe zones in a race against time to recover the kidnapped victim—whose identity remains under wraps for security reasons.
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Protesters Roar: ‘We Want Peace, Not Fear’
Hundreds took to the streets, led by a united front of civil society groups including the Rongmei Naga Council Manipur, RNLPM, RNYO, and RNSUM, among others. Carrying bold placards screaming “Stop Kidnapping” and “Release the Kidnapped Person,” demonstrators accused the attackers of jeopardizing fragile peace in the hill-valley belt.
The Kaiphundai Village Authority and local student and youth bodies echoed the outrage, denouncing the act as an assault on the community’s right to safety and mobility.
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Manipur Police ramped up operations with area domination patrols and 110 security checkpoints across vulnerable zones. Over 123 goods-laden vehicles were shepherded safely along NH-37 amid tightened convoy protection.
The kidnappers, still at large, have yet to make any demands, fueling speculation and heightening tension in an already volatile region.
