IMPHAL, July 11: Some suspected NSCN-IM militants burned down two vehicles heading for Imphal from Moreh at near Thamnapokpi under Tengnoupal Police Station at around 5 pm today.
The burned vehicles were one Bolero jeep and one Tata Sumo. The militants also looted money and mobile phones from the drivers and passengers.
According to police, the incident occurred at a place which is about three kilometers from Thamnapoki towards Moreh and about two kilometers from Bongyang AR Post towards Imphal.
The suspected NSCN-IM cadres were armed with AK-47 rifles and their faces were masked. All of them had a backpack.
The drivers of the Bolero bearing registration number MN-04A 8861 and Tata Sumo bearing registration number MN06L 0235 pleaded the militants and even offered them money not to burn down their vehicles. But, they set ablaze the vehicles along with the goods.
The Bolero is owned by Mayanglambam Modhu from Kakching Wairi Sabal Leikai and the driver is Yengkhom Kanta, son of Tamphamani from Kakching Yengkhom Leikai. The militants looted Rs.3000 along with a mobile phone from the driver.
The Tata Sumo is owned and driven by Naorem Churamani of Kakching Wairi Senapati Leikai. Rs. 20,000 cash was looted from him. The militants also looted Rs. 10,000 and one mobile phone from two women who boarded the Tata Sumo from Heikakpokpi.
Fire tenders from Kakching rushed in as soon the news was received, but the vehicles were almost burned down when the fire tenders reached the spot. A team of police led by OC Tengnoupal also rushed to the spot.