Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: The Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations launched an indefinite counter-economic blockade on National Highway-202 at midnight on July 26. The move follows months of failed dialogue with the government over restricted access to essential supplies in Kuki-Zo villages across Ukhrul, Kamjong, and Kangpokpi districts.
Blockade enforcers are shutting down all private and government institutions within 14 affected Kuki-Zo villages until further notice. The committee claims they were forced into this action after authorities ignored repeated memoranda and provided only empty assurances. The group stated that they can no longer remain silent while their community is denied basic goods.
Volunteers will exempt medical emergencies, airport traffic, passenger vehicles, and security forces from the stop. Every vehicle faces mandatory inspection. The committee intends to keep the road closed until the government delivers concrete results, rather than just promises. They criticized state and central authorities for showing bias when handling protests compared to other local organizations.
Tensions spiked following rumors of an abduction. The committee officially rejected claims that its volunteers kidnapped an Indian Overseas Bank employee named Kharaingam Jaojo on the Shangkai-Mahadev stretch. They branded the accusations false and pointed to the heavy security presence on the highway as proof of the claim's absurdity. The committee admitted to intercepting an India Post vehicle, but insisted they only seized commercial cargo and allowed the driver and mail to proceed. The group urged the public to verify facts before spreading rumors, stating, "misinformation could further aggravate tensions in the conflict-affected state." Manipur Police have yet to comment on these developments.
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