Imphal: Employees of the department of posts’ Manipur division protested on Tuesday against the alleged hijacking of a postal vehicle and burning of 34 mail bags destined for Ukhrul and Kamjong a day earlier.Official sources said the vehicle was stopped at Shangkai Kuki village along the Imphal-Ukhrul route in Ukhrul district. The destroyed consignment comprised 29 bags for the Ukhrul sub-office, four for Somdal and one for Kamjong, containing ATM cards, passports and other documents.The vehicle was travelling towards Ukhrul as part of a security convoy when it was intercepted. Sources alleged that armed persons forced the driver at gunpoint to take the vehicle to a nearby hill, where the mail was separated according to communities before the bags, containing letters and parcels, were set ablaze.The group also allegedly attempted to burn the vehicle, but local elders intervened and stopped them.During a demonstration at the post office headquarters in Imphal’s Babupara, employees demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and stronger security for postal vehicles.Ngangbam Arunkumar Singh, office assistant with the Investigation Branch of the Manipur Postal Division, said the driver was detained at gunpoint and subjected to ill-treatment. Although villagers later prevented damage to the vehicle, the mail bags had already been destroyed, he said.Singh said postal employees had continued serving across Manipur despite the ethnic violence since May 2023. Postal vehicles operating on the Imphal-Dimapur, Imphal-Churachandpur and Imphal-Pallel routes had previously faced harassment, he claimed.Despite the ordeal, the driver resumed his journey and completed his assigned duty in Ukhrul. However, Singh alleged that no security personnel were present when the vehicle rejoined the main road.Questioning how the attack occurred despite escort arrangements, Singh said postal articles become Govt of India property once booked, making their destruction a grave concern.
