Residents along Manipur’s IT Road in the Kangpokpi hills begintheir journeys as early as 3 a.m. and crossing steep, forested terrain on foot to reach markets at Motbung and Sapormeina. The Congress says the ordeal reflects the worsening hardship caused by restrictions on movement.
BY PC Bureau
The Congress in Manipur has urged the Kangpokpi district administration to urgently end the prolonged blockade and restrictions on movement, highlighting the severe hardships faced by Kuki-Zo civilians who are being forced to cross steep mountain terrain on foot for hours to obtain essential supplies.
The appeal was made by a delegation of the Sadar Hills District Congress Committee (SH-DCC) during a meeting with newly appointed Kangpokpi Deputy Commissioner Hemant Kumar, IAS, on August 24. Led by SH-DCC president Dr Lamtinthang Haokip, the delegation submitted a detailed representation outlining what it described as the pressing problems confronting residents across the district.
Among the most striking concerns raised was the plight of people living in the Twilang areas along the IT Road. According to the Congress, residents who cannot use certain routes through Naga-inhabited villages to reach Kangpokpi town are being forced to cross the steep Koubru mountain range to buy essential commodities from Motbung and Sapormeina, located along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway.
The journey can begin as early as 3 a.m., with residents carrying heavy loads back through the hills and reaching their villages only around 2 p.m. The trek can therefore consume more than 10 hours, leaving people exhausted after negotiating steep and difficult terrain.
A photograph cited by the Congress shows residents resting along a muddy, mist-covered hillside path after making the arduous journey. Men and women can be seen carrying bags, baskets and backpacks containing essential supplies, underscoring the difficulties faced by communities living in areas affected by restrictions on road movement.
Congress Raises Six Key Demands
The SH-DCC said its representation to the Deputy Commissioner focused on several urgent issues.
First, it demanded that all eligible voters in Kangpokpi be included in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and called for special measures to ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) are not excluded from the process.
Second, it sought equal treatment for all IDPs, regardless of whether they are living in relief camps or elsewhere. The Congress called for greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of welfare schemes meant for displaced people.
Third, the party demanded unrestricted movement of essential commodities and other daily necessities along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway. While the government has announced that the highway has reopened for commuters under security arrangements, the Congress argued that restrictions affecting the movement of essential goods were causing additional hardship.
Fourth, the SH-DCC claimed that an economic blockade affecting the highway and several inter-village roads—including the IT Road and Leimakhong-Kangchup Road—had continued for more than three months. It said the restrictions had contributed to sharp increases in the prices of essential commodities and were hurting consumers, daily-wage workers, traders and shopkeepers across communities.
Fifth, the Congress called for immediate intervention to address the hardships faced by people in the Twilang area along the IT Road and in South-West Sadar Hills, particularly the Leimakhong-Tingkai belt.
Sixth, it called for legal proceedings related to the violence that began on May 3, 2023, to be conducted without prejudice or political considerations. The party demanded that justice for victims be transparent, fair and accountable.
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Warning Over Growing Mistrust
The SH-DCC expressed concern that continuing uncertainty in Kangpokpi and adjoining areas was deepening fear, confusion and mistrust among ordinary residents.
The committee also alleged that the government’s response during the early stages of the Manipur violence was inadequate and argued that a faster and impartial intervention could have prevented loss of life. It called for justice for victims of the violence while stressing that lasting peace would require dialogue rather than further confrontation.
The Congress said it was prepared to facilitate dialogue among groups involved in the conflict and urged the Kangpokpi administration to convene a meeting involving all political parties and civil society organisations operating in the district.
The proposed meeting, it said, should focus on issues affecting ordinary people and explore ways to restore peace, harmony and mutual trust.
Appeal to Reject Violence
The SH-DCC also appealed to all sections of society in Manipur, particularly in Kangpokpi, to reject violence and embrace dialogue, non-violence and humanitarian values.
It said the younger generation should not be forced to inherit a cycle of violence and hatred and called for collective efforts to create conditions in which communities could coexist peacefully.
The representation was signed by Dr Lamtinthang Haokip, president of the SH-DCC; Mangseh Singsit, vice-president; Dr Mangkholal Haokip, general secretary; and Thangkhomang Chongloi, president of the Kangpokpi Block Congress Committee.
The Congress’s appeal comes as the administration continues to face the difficult task of restoring normal movement, access to essential supplies and public confidence across areas of Kangpokpi affected by the prolonged Manipur conflict.
