Miscreants intercepted a mail van on National Highway 202 in Manipur on Monday (July 27, 2026) and set ablaze 35 postal bags containing passports, ATM cards, educational documents, and other articles. This happened amid a continuing highway blockade by an unidentified mob.

The incident occurred in the State’s Ukhrul district, between Yaingangpokpi and Litan, on Monday (July 27, 2026). It followed the alleged looting of 40 commercial and private vehicles on the highway that connects Manipur’s capital, Imphal, with Ukhrul and Kamjong towns.

Wungreipam Rimai, the postmaster at the Ukhrul Sub-Post Office, said the Department of Posts was transporting the consignments. “Thirty-five postal bags were destroyed in the incident,” he said.

Thirty bags were destined for Ukhrul, four for Somdal, and one for Kamjong. Somdal is the ancestral village of Thuingaleng Muivah, the general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim.

“We have reported the incident to the civil and law enforcement agencies concerned for an investigation and necessary action,” Mr Rimai said.

Indefinite blockade

District officials said an unidentified mob began an “indefinite” blockade on the night of July 26.

Meanwhile, the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (apex community organisation) alleged that Kuki villagers, in collusion with Kuki insurgents under the Suspension of Operations agreement, halted commercial and private vehicles plying along the highway with security escorts and confiscated their belongings at Shangkai Kuki village and Mahadev hill on the following day, July 27.

“All these illegal activities were brazenly carried out in the presence of security forces deployed on reconnaissance and observation post (ROP) duty. More than 40 commercial and private vehicles were accosted at the two specified locations by the Kukis in the name of enforcing an illegal counter-economic blockade,” the organisation said in a statement.

It further said that belongings, including valuable documents, cash, clothes, and groceries, were pillaged and burned, while other items were looted.

The organisation sought to know why security forces deployed on escort and ROP duty failed to provide effective safety and security for commuters and their property.