TWO YEARS after a group of masked men robbed Rs 18.85 crore from Punjab National Bank’s branch in Ukhrul, Manipur, the NIA has registered a fresh FIR, claiming that the robbery was committed by the armed cadre of eastern flank of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN/Isak-Muivah), who later fled to Myanmar with the money. The incident took place on November 30, 2023 at the PNB branch in the Viewland area of Ukhrul. “A CCTV camera installed outside the bank captured a group of 10 masked men armed with sophisticated weapons entering the bank at 5.42 pm. They held the bank employees hostage at gunpoint before looting Rs 18.85 crore,” an official said. The latest FIR was registered by the NIA on September 8, following directions from the Union Home Ministry to take over the probe from the state police and investigate a larger conspiracy angle. “This offence (robbery) was committed by armed cadres of Eastern Flank of NSCN/IM led by Lt. Col (then Major) P Joseph alias P Jackson, a native of Roni village in Kamjong district, Manipur, to finance their ambitious plan to procure sophisticated weaponry to strategically strengthen its position in Myanmar,” the FIR said. An official said the MHA decided to involve the NIA after they received credible information that the robbery was committed by armed cadres of NSCN(IM). “CCTV footage has revealed that the cadre were led by P Joseph. On July 30, 2025, three hardcore cadres of NSCN(IM), including P Joseph were arrested by Nagaland police from Dimapur and handed over to Manipur Police on July 31,” the MHA communicated to NIA.
