Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: The Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations in Ukhrul has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Manipur government. They demand an immediate end to what they call a selective blockade targeting Kuki-Zo residents. The clock started at midnight on August 3 and expires at midnight on August 5. If authorities do not clear the route, a total shutdown will follow.
The group claims specific Tangkhul and Meitei factions are blocking National Highway-202. They have set up checkpoints at Seijang, Yaingangpokpi, Wunghon, and Shokvao. These obstructions stop essential goods from reaching Kuki-Zo villages. The organization demands the free flow of food and medicine. They insist their protest is separate from the United Naga Council blockade on National Highway-2.
While the United Naga Council demands justice for six slain Zeliangrong men, the WCKCSOs focus on humanitarian access. They claim peaceful protests over the past week yielded no government response. The group argues that the highway must serve everyone equally. "A highway cannot be a lifeline for one people and a blockade for another," the committee stated in their release.
The organization warned officials not to confuse their struggle with other regional disputes. They demand independent intervention to restore supply lines. The committee cautioned that their current restraint is not a sign of weakness. "No democracy can expect one community to keep its roads open while its own people are selectively deprived of food and essential commodities," the group said. The government now faces a hard deadline to act or face the consequences of a total area shutdown.
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