The highway had faced prolonged disruption following the killing of six Liangmai Naga men and was completely shut after the UNC launched its indefinite economic blockade on September 9.
BY PC Bureau
September 12, 2026: Manipur Police on Saturday claimed that movement had resumed along National Highway-37, reporting that 103 loaded trucks carrying essential commodities and other goods had moved from Jiribam towards Imphal under security cover, days after the route was completely shut amid an intensifying Naga blockade.
NH-37, the key Jiribam-Imphal supply corridor, had faced prolonged disruption following the abduction and killing of six Liangmai Naga men on May 13. The killings triggered widespread protests and blockades by Naga organisations demanding justice.
The situation escalated again on September 9, when the United Naga Council launched an indefinite economic blockade covering NH-37 and other major highways in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur. The action was linked to the demand for justice for the six Liangmai men.
Clarification regarding movement on NH-37:
It has come to notice that certain unfounded posts on social media are causing apprehension among drivers plying on NH-37.
It is hereby clarified that regular and unhindered movement of both loaded and empty vehicles, including…— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) September 12, 2026
The blockade severely affected movement of essential supplies, with reports of trucks being stranded along NH-37. On September 10, vehicles travelling in a security-escorted supply convoy were reportedly attacked with stones at different points between Awangkhun and Noney, leaving drivers injured and vehicles damaged.
Against this backdrop, Manipur Police issued a clarification on Saturday rejecting reports that NH-37 remained blocked.
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According to the police, there was “regular and unhindered movement” of loaded trucks, empty vehicles and passenger traffic along the highway, with security forces providing protection.
Police said 103 loaded trucks had moved from Jiribam towards Imphal and that the safe movement of other vehicles was also being ensured.
The police also warned against social-media posts claiming that NH-37 remained closed, saying such reports could create fear among truckers and discourage movement along the crucial supply route.
The claim comes at a sensitive moment. The UNC blockade was imposed over the unresolved killings of the six Liangmai Naga men, while another Naga body, the Joint Tribes Coordination Committee Manipur, separately called for a shutdown of NH-37 after five Naga women were detained by security personnel and later released.
The latest police statement therefore represents an attempt to establish that, despite the blockade, the Jiribam-Imphal corridor is being kept operational under heavy security.
For Manipur, the issue is critical because NH-37 is one of the state’s principal supply arteries, connecting Imphal with Jiribam and the Silchar side of Assam. Any prolonged disruption directly affects the movement of food, fuel, medicines and other essential commodities.
