Highway blockade paralyses NH-2 as Manipur shutdown enters day 3

Imphal, June 23: Traffic along one of Manipur’s most critical lifelines remained severely disrupted on Tuesday as an emergency highway shutdown called by Kuki civil society organisations entered its third consecutive day, choking movement along National Highway-2 in Kangpokpi district.

The blockade, backed by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and other Kuki-Zo organisations, has brought vehicular movement on the vital Imphal-Dimapur corridor to a near standstill, with only ambulances, medical emergencies and humanitarian relief vehicles being allowed passage.

Protesters continued to occupy key stretches of the highway across Kangpokpi, Saparmeina, Gamgiphai and adjoining areas, demanding an end to what they describe as “selective and partisan” security operations targeting Kuki-Zo villages and village volunteers.

The agitation began on Sunday and has since emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state’s prolonged ethnic and political tensions, raising concerns over supply chains and connectivity between Manipur and the rest of the country.

While protest organisers said certain restrictions were relaxed after assurances from the Kangpokpi Superintendent of Police regarding the safe transportation of essential commodities to Kuki-Zo inhabited areas, the broader shutdown remained in force on Tuesday.

The continuing blockade has once again highlighted the fragility of peace in the hill districts, where tensions remain high despite repeated appeals for normalcy.

Meanwhile, in Imphal, a group of women activists submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of four members of Arambai Tenggol, adding another layer to the state’s evolving political and security landscape.

With the highway shutdown showing no immediate signs of ending, concerns are mounting over its impact on transportation, trade and the movement of essential supplies in the coming days.

Also Read: CSU, NHIDCL sign roadmap to complete delayed NH-29 project by September

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