Two Meitei men take restricted NH-102, Kangpokpi police handed over to Sekmai Police

In a concerning development amid ongoing ethnic tensions and travel restrictions, two individuals were found travelling through the heavily guarded National Highway-102, a route currently prohibited for Meitei civilians due to the government’s buffer zone arrangements. The duo was intercepted near Mayangkhang under Senapati district early this morning.
According to police sources, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sekmai Police Station received information at around 12:37 AM today regarding the movement of two individuals in an Alto car (registration number MN01G 6592). The individuals were identified as Nongthongbam Arun Singh (45), son of N. Munindro Singh of Luwangsangbam Mamang Leikai, and Guruaribam Tiken Sharma (42), son of Guruaribam Tomba Sharma of Luwangsangbam Godown Maning Leikai. They had reportedly travelled from Imphal towards Kangpokpi.
Following the tip-off, the tower location of G. Tiken’s mobile phone was traced to the Mayangkhang area under Senapati Police Station. OC Senapati, Inspector Nehgoulin Kipgen, responded immediately and located the duo along with their vehicle.
The two were safely escorted back up to Kanglatongbi Bazaar by Senapati police and subsequently taken into custody by Sekmai Police for verification. By 8:25 AM, the two individuals were handed over to their respective families from Sekmai Police Station.
The motive behind their travel remains unclear, but security officials expressed concern over their movement through a sensitive area where Meitei civilians have been barred from travelling to avoid potential violence.