Protests Leave Dozens of Truck Drivers Stranded on Manipur Highway

Imphal: Dozens of commercial truck drivers from Nagaland, Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya are stuck on National Highway-2 in Manipur. They have sat for over five days as rival protest groups choke the Imphal-Dimapur route. A Liangmei Naga group enforced an economic blockade at Namduilong-Kanglatongbi, while Kuki-Zo organizations staged a counter-protest at the Gamgiphai Buffer Zone. Drivers are trapped in the middle.

Food and water supplies are running dry. Many lack access to toilets or clean water. The Manipur government provided security escorts for some, but many remain on the road. The Sadar Hills Inland Transporters and Drivers Union stepped in to deliver rice, oil, and water to the workers.

SHITDU spokesperson Lenpu Chongloi said, "These drivers are performing an essential service for society. They should not be left abandoned in the middle of a confrontation. We rushed to help because humanity comes first."

The union insists that drivers should not suffer for political disputes. They urged both groups to clear the path and asked the state government to break the deadlock. One driver described the dire situation. "There are no basic facilities, not even toilets. We appeal to the government to ensure our safe passage at the earliest," the driver said.