Imphal: Kuki-Zo volunteers caught two men inside the Gamgiphai buffer zone shortly after midnight on August 1. Junia Shyam and Rajesh Heisnam, both from Singjamei in Imphal, drove into the restricted area in a van marked as a school vehicle. They were stopped by volunteers working highway duty. The pair faced accusations of being drunk while behind the wheel.
The men claimed they were headed to Senapati. Security officials set up this buffer zone following the May 2023 ethnic violence to keep warring groups apart. Volunteers escorted the duo to Saparmeina Police Station and handed them over without any violence. Police now look into the breach.
Authorities are reviewing how the men entered the zone and if security protocols failed. One official noted the incident has "renewed concerns over unauthorised movement through buffer zones, particularly during late-night hours, in view of the prevailing security situation in the state."
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