Vehemently condemning the torching of an excavator belonging to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) on Monday along the National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) road, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Moltam Block has warned of an indefinite blockade along the highway from November 9 midnight if the perpetrators are not booked within 24 hours.
The student body stated that some unidentified armed group, suspected to be cadres of the NSCN-IM, set ablaze an excavator belonging to the NHIDCL between Bijang village and Thanglongbung village along the National Highway 37 under New Keithelmanbi Police Station in Kangpokpi District on Monday at around 6:30 pm.
A team of KSO Moltam Block, on learning of the incident, immediately rushed to the site and shockingly came to know that some armed group along with sophisticated weapons threatened the drivers and labourers and set the excavator ablaze at gun-point, it added.
It also stated that the armed miscreants also left two bullet shells along with a note with a mobile number 9362591819 written on it.
The student body also condemned the repeated threats meted towards the NHIDCL and creating fear psychosis amongst the general public.
While strongly condemning the alleged barbaric act, KSO Moltam Block also wondered as to how these armed groups are let loose and free to commit such an uncivilized and barbaric act and appealed to the state's machinery and authorities concerned to book the culprits within 24 hours.
It then warned that if the perpetrators are not booked within the stipulated time, they will be compelled to impose an indefinite blockade along the National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) from midnight of November 9 till the culprits are booked.
The student body also appealed to the public to maintain peace and harmony in the area.
