Ukhrul, July 23: Condemnation continues to pour in over the demolition of the Bailey bridge connecting Kamjong headquarters with Chatric village under Sahamphung Sub-Division, with several Tangkhul civil bodies calling the attack a direct assault on public infrastructure and the livelihoods of thousands living in the Indo-Myanmar border region.
In separate statements issued on July 22, the Chatric Village Authority (CVA), Sambu Raiping Long (SRL) and the Tangkhul Naga Zingsho Longphang (TNZL) strongly denounced the destruction of the bridge over the Nambalok (also referred to as Namban) River and the burning of a BSNL Bolero vehicle during the intervening night of July 21 and 22.
The organizations alleged that the attack was carried out by armed Kuki militants operating in the border area. The Tangkhul Express has not independently verified these allegations.
According to the CVA, the Bailey bridge served as the only road link connecting Chatric village and 12 other border villages with Kamjong district headquarters. The village authority described the destruction as more than an act of vandalism, saying it has disrupted access to healthcare, emergency services, trade, education and essential supplies for residents in the remote border belt.
“The bridge was the lifeline of the region,” the authority said, adding that its destruction has isolated vulnerable communities and created severe logistical hardships.
The SRL also condemned the attack, stating that the bridge’s demolition has completely cut off road connectivity between Kamjong headquarters and several villages under Sahamphung Sub-Division. It further noted that a Bolero vehicle belonging to the Telecom Department, which had reportedly broken down near the bridge, was also set ablaze during the incident.
Similarly, the TNZL termed the bridge blast an attack on public infrastructure that has imposed unnecessary hardship on civilians residing in remote border areas. Following what it described as a spot inquiry, the organization claimed the bridge was destroyed using an improvised explosive device, causing the structure to collapse at its midpoint.
All three organizations urged the Manipur Government to launch an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident, identify those responsible, and ensure they are prosecuted under relevant provisions of law, including the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
They also appealed to the authorities to restore road connectivity at the earliest by constructing an alternative route and expediting the reconstruction of the Bailey bridge, warning that prolonged disruption would continue to affect transportation, emergency services, economic activities and the daily lives of thousands of people in the Indo-Myanmar border region.
The bridge, constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), has long served as a vital transport corridor for villages under Sahamphung Sub-Division. Its destruction has further compounded connectivity challenges in one of Manipur’s most remote frontier regions.
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