An Eco Van used for supplying milk was torched by miscreants in a suspicious manner at Salam Thong which is located around 2.5 km North West from Patsoi Police Station in Imphal West around 11 pm on Saturday.
The incident having any connection with the ongoing economic blockade imposed by ATSUM is unlikely as per an initial presumption by police.
According to sources, the van (MN01AG/3666) is owned by one Ngamthang Haokip ,65, who is the chief of S Saheibung Village from near Sangaithel. Sources said that he had purchased the vehicle from one Hegin from Lamjangphai Village in Churachandpur district.
The van is yet to be registered in the name of Ngamthang Haokip who runs a cattle farm in his village and supplies milk to Langol, Chekkon, Lambulane etc. The van was used for supplying milk, sources said.
In a routine manner, the supply begins at 5 pm and ends at 10 pm. The supplying is done by two of Ngamthang’s siblings who are also from S Saheibung village. On Saturday, their mother also happened to be assisting them in supplying milk.
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Sources said that after dropping the last supply of milk at Langol, the three of them were returning back to Saheibung village. While they were passing through Lamshang bazar, a car with three unknown occupants inside started following them, and they were further stopped at Salam Thongkhong and made to step out of the van, sources said.
They were made to stand in a straight line and told to face away from the road. One of them started searching for something inside the van while the remaining two kept a guard on the family. After being unable to find what they were looking for from inside the vehicle, the unknown persons told the family that Ngamthang Haokip had taken something which belonged to them and they were looking for it.
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When the family finally turned around towards the vehicle, it was found engulfed in flames, sources said. The three people left soon from the spot in the same car. It was also learnt that the three persons had been following the family from the Langol area.
On receiving information, a water tender from the fire service arrived but the van was already burnt beyond repair. In connection with the incident, Patsoi police station has registered a case. On Sunday, a team of Manipur Police including DIG (Range-1) K Kabib, SP Imphal West, and Additional SP arrived at the spot to take stock of the situation.
