Accusing the Manipur and Central governments of failing to ensure the free movement of essential commodities, the WCKCSOs-Ukhrul said the blockade would continue until concrete action—not assurances—is taken to restore normal supplies.
BY PC BUREAU
July 26: The Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations (WCKCSOs)-Ukhrul on Sunday announced an indefinite counter economic blockade on National Highway-202, effective from midnight, alleging that prolonged disruptions in the supply of essential commodities to Kuki-Zo areas had left the community with no alternative.
In a statement issued through its Department of Information and Media, the organisation said the blockade was being enforced “not out of choice, but out of compulsion,” accusing both the Manipur and Central governments of failing to ensure the uninterrupted movement of essential goods to Kuki-Zo inhabited areas in Ukhrul, Kamjong and Kangpokpi districts.
The committee alleged that for months, residents of the three districts had faced severe shortages of essential commodities because of repeated obstructions on key transport routes, while the authorities remained passive. “Our people have suffered silently for months as supplies were repeatedly blocked. Despite repeated appeals, the government has failed to take effective steps to restore normal movement,” the statement said.
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According to the WCKCSOs, it had exhausted all peaceful avenues before resorting to the blockade. The organisation said it had submitted memoranda to the authorities, participated in meetings, accepted repeated assurances and exercised restraint in the hope that the situation would improve. However, it claimed those assurances never translated into action.
Following consultations with Kuki-Zo civil society organisations from Ukhrul and Kangpokpi, the Working Committee held an emergency meeting on Sunday and unanimously resolved to launch the counter blockade. The agitation, it said, would continue until the government takes concrete measures to guarantee the unhindered movement of essential commodities, rather than merely issuing assurances.
The blockade will remain in force indefinitely. However, the organisation said medical emergencies, passenger vehicles, travellers heading to airports and security force vehicles would be permitted to pass after inspection to ensure they were not transporting commercial goods or essential supplies.
The committee also announced the closure of all government and private institutions located within the jurisdiction of the 14 Kuki-Zo villages covered by the agitation until further notice.
Expressing regret over the inconvenience likely to be caused to the public, the WCKCSOs nevertheless maintained that the community had reached a breaking point.
“A people denied their basic necessities cannot be expected to remain silent indefinitely,” the statement said, placing responsibility for the situation squarely on the authorities for what it described as their prolonged inaction.
The organisation also appealed to volunteers enforcing the blockade to remain vigilant and maintain discipline. It alleged that previous Kuki-Zo protests had been met with a heavy security response, while similar economic blockades organised by Meitei and Naga groups had not attracted comparable action from the authorities.
The announcement comes amid continuing ethnic tensions in Manipur, where transport routes and the movement of essential commodities have frequently become flashpoints in the prolonged conflict between different communities. The latest blockade is expected to further complicate the movement of goods and services unless an early resolution is reached through government intervention or dialogue.
