Vehicular movement along National Highway-2 in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district is set to return to normal after the Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations (WCKCSOs) lifted its economic blockade on Saturday following Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's intervention.
The blockade, which began at 7 a.m. on August 8, came less than three weeks after the end of a 20-day communal road blockade on the same route. That earlier action, enforced by rival community groups, had targeted Kuki-Zo commuters between Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, effectively cutting off their movement amid heightened ethnic tensions and disputes over land rights and administrative control in Manipur’s hill areas.
Launched as an indefinite protest, the latest blockade sought to oppose travel curbs imposed on the Kuki-Zo community since July 15. These restrictions, reportedly enforced by groups hostile to the Kuki-Zo, were linked to ongoing unrest and allegations of land encroachment in tribal and hill areas, issues that have kept the state on edge for months. For Kuki civil society, the measures amounted to what they described as “collective punishment” and a deliberate attempt to isolate their community.
Also read: Churachandpur tribal body bars Kuki Zo Council in Zomi areas
The WCKCSOs had accused the government of failing to address what it termed “undemocratic and targeted restrictions” on their key route. WCKCSOs spokesperson Thangminlen Kipgen said the decision to call off the protest was taken in light of the Governor’s role in resolving the crisis. “Although delayed and at the cost of tremendous hardship for our people, we acknowledge the Governor’s intervention and the role of the UNC in ending the total blockade against the Kuki-Zo community,” he said.
The committee also credited the United Naga Council (UNC) for its “mature stand” during a sensitive period, commending its commitment to humanitarian values. It thanked well-wishers and members of the Kuki-Zo community for their solidarity, highlighting that women monitored much of the blockade at Kangpokpi District Headquarters.
While suspending the protest, the WCKCSOs cautioned against future attempts to impose similar restrictions. “We will never allow any organisation to dictate terms along our lifelines,” the group said, urging its community to remain vigilant.
Follow us
