Ground rules of SoO pact rubbished
KRA collects Rs 3000 from each goods truck
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 15 2026: Receipts for illegal tax! The Government has miserably failed to enforce the ground rules of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact signed with Kuki militant groups, as armed cadres of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) continue to extort money along the Imphal-Dimapur highway.

KRA is one of the signatories among more than two dozen Kuki militant groups that are part of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF), which signed the SoO agreement.

Under the terms of the pact, cadres of these militant groups were supposed to completely cease all forms of violence and stay in their designated camps.

KRA collects Rs 3000 from each goods truck

However, the ongoing extortion activities by the KRA suggest a clear failure in the enforcement of the agreement.

According to well-placed sources, armed cadres of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) forcibly collected Rs 3,000 from each loaded truck which travelled along the highway at Keithelmanbi in Kangpokpi on April 14 .

The sources reported that in the morning of April 14, loaded trucks travelling from Dimapur to Imphal were halted by individuals armed with sophisticated weapons at Keithelmanbi.

These armed individuals then extorted Rs 3,000 from the drivers of around 70 trucks.

Afterward, receipts were issued to the drivers.

The receipts clearly indicated the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) and KNO, with a note stating "Vehicle Department." The receipt also included the name "Mexson," labelled as the Finance Minister of KNO/KRA .

The sources revealed that there is a restriction on loaded trucks from passing through Kangpokpi at night.

As a result, transporters are forced to head to Tumuyon and Mayangkhang in Senapati, where they spend the night before continuing their journey to Imphal in the morning.

As usual, on the morning of April 14, several loaded trucks set out for Imphal from T Khullen, but they were stopped by KRA cadres armed with sophisticated weapons at Keithelmanbi in Kangpokpi.

The armed cadres then demanded Rs 3,000 from each truck driver.

Drivers who did not have the required amount even borrowed money from others to pay the extortion fee.

After the illegal tax was paid, receipts were issued to the drivers.

It is reported that the trucks started proceeding to Imphal after a police team rushed to the area.

They reached Imphal around 2 pm yesterday.

Sources farther stated that Central forces used to conduct Road Opening Parties (ROP) when loaded trucks passed through the area.

However, the CRPF personnel who were previously deployed in Kangpokpi have been reassigned to other States, and the absence of Central forces has allowed Kuki militants to extort money.

Expressing their frustration, some drivers said that the Government has failed to ensure the safety of drivers along the highways.

The police typically report the number of loaded vehicles that pass through the highway in its daily bulletins, they said and added this information, however, was absent from the bulletin on the day of the incident.

They urged the Government to take immediate action to ensure their safety and put an end to extortion on the highways.