Tribal Unity Committee Demands Removal of Manipur Roadblocks

Imphal: The Committee on Tribal Unity is demanding the immediate removal of illegal checkpoints at Chawangkining and Thonglang. The Sadar Hills-based group issued the warning following a deadly attack at Makui along the IT Road. CoTU labeled the recent bloodshed as "most unfortunate and regrettable" while noting that it threatens the fragile peace Manipur has struggled to maintain over the past three years.

CoTU claims villages like Thonglang and Chawangkining have blocked essential food and medicine headed to Kuki-Zo settlements in the Twilang area since May 13. Blockades are killing people. Patients have reportedly died after failing to reach medical facilities because of these transit restrictions. The group also cites the harassment of doctors and the destruction of medical equipment as primary drivers of the rising local hostility.

The committee links past violence to NSCN-IM and ZUF (Kamson) factions. According to the organization, these groups are responsible for the destruction of several Kuki villages and the deaths of 18 Kuki-Zo individuals, including three church leaders. CoTU is now pushing the state government to take direct action against these armed groups. They want the government to clear the roads and guarantee safe passage for humanitarian aid to avoid a new cycle of violence.