Manipur: Truck set ablaze after alleged hijacking by militants near India-Myanmar border

Imphal: A truck transporting sand for construction of a barrack for the India Reserve Battalion was hijacked and burned along the Indo-Myanmar border near Moreh in Manipur's Tengnoupal district, on Friday morning.

The driver and handyman were allegedly beaten by unidentified armed men who accused them of being involved in illegal sand mining.

A Tata Tipper truck was found burned to a shell near a bypassed road in Moreh around 8 am on Friday, police said. A video circulating on social media shows the driver and handyman being tied up and beaten with sticks.

The unseen individuals questioning them ask how many times they had transported sand for construction. The men reply that they had made two trips.

According to police, the armed men stole the mobile phones of the driver, Md Elaa (30), and handyman, Md Emin (29), both residents of Kairang in Imphal East district.

The incident occurred around 1:30 am on Thursday as the driver and handyman were returning to their vehicle after delivering sand at Moreh police IB.

They were reportedly stopped near Chahnou village, blindfolded, and abducted by Kuki volunteers, according to their statements.

Moreh police have registered a case and are searching for the perpetrators. The social organization My Manipur has condemned the violence.