Imphal: Volunteers from a Naga village intercepted a Scorpio SUV displaying a “CoTU Medical Team” signboard on National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur Road) near Namdilong under Sekmai Police Station on Sunday morning, allegedly recovering a large quantity of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from the vehicle.
The incident took place amid heightened tensions along the highway, days after the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the State and Central governments over the alleged obstruction of essential supplies by members of the Kacha Naga community.
According to reports from the spot, the volunteers stopped the private SUV during routine checks and found beer, liquor bottles, and a wrapped spray can inside the vehicle. The seized liquor was reportedly destroyed on the spot, while the driver was issued a warning and allowed to leave.
Reacting to the incident, CoTU strongly denied any connection with the intercepted vehicle. The organisation maintained that its medical relief operations are carried out exclusively through its designated ambulances and officially authorised vehicles, and not private SUVs.
Describing the episode as a politically motivated attempt to tarnish its image, CoTU alleged that the use of its medical team signage on the vehicle was intended to mislead the public. The organisation asserted that it has never deployed private vehicles for medical missions.
CoTU has also demanded an explanation from those operating the checkpoint at Namdilong-Kanglatongbi, seeking clarification on the circumstances surrounding the interception and the alleged unauthorised use of its medical team signage.