The Zomi Council’s warning follows the vandalisation of a fertiliser truck at Moirang, with Manipur Police arresting five accused in connection with the incident.
BY PC Bureau
April 28, 2026 — The Zomi Council has warned that that it may be forced to take “decisive and irreversible measures” if the Government of Manipur fails to immediately end disruptions along National Highway-2 and restore the flow of essential supplies to the hill districts.
In a sharply worded statement, the Council condemned what it described as “deliberate, inhumane obstruction” of life-saving goods bound for Lamka and other parts of Churachandpur district. Referring to the recent incident at Moirang, where consignments were allegedly vandalised in transit, the body called the act “a public display of cruelty that strips away the very basis of civilised conduct.”
“The continued targeting of essential commodities is no longer a matter of law and order—it is an assault on survival,” the statement declared, adding that food stocks, fuel reserves, medicines, and agricultural inputs have reached critically low levels. “Families are being pushed to the brink. Livelihoods are collapsing. The patience of the people is not unlimited.”
“Three Years On, Still Under Siege”
The Council expressed deep frustration that nearly three years into the ethnic crisis, the situation has not only failed to stabilise but continues to deteriorate. It accused authorities of “inaction bordering on complicity,” warning that repeated blockades are hardening public sentiment and accelerating calls for political separation among tribal communities.
On 26.04.2026, Manipur Police arrested 05 (five) individuals who were involved in damaging a loaded truck and destroying its shipment of fertilizer bags at Moirang Patlou under Moirang-PS, Bishnupur district:
i)Laishram Avijit Singh (25) of Thamnapokpi village,
ii)Khwairakpam… pic.twitter.com/Nyyh65C0xt— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) April 27, 2026
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“If the State cannot guarantee the most basic right—the right to access food and medicine—then it forfeits the trust of its people,” the Council said. “We will not remain passive spectators to the slow suffocation of our communities.”
The warning follows the April 26 attack at Moirang Patlou, where a truck carrying fertiliser was vandalised and its cargo destroyed. Manipur Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the incident and seized vehicles allegedly used in the act. Investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee linked to the Tronglaobi incident has announced the withdrawal of its blockade on goods transport—though the situation on the ground remains fragile and unpredictable.
Escalating Tone: “We Will Act”
In unusually direct language, the Zomi Council warned that continued failure to act would compel it to consider “all necessary steps” to safeguard its people—language widely interpreted as a signal of potential mass mobilisation or stronger political demands.
“This is the final warning,” the statement said. “If essential lifelines continue to be choked, responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with those who chose silence over action.
The Zomi Council is the principal socio-political body representing Zomi tribes in Manipur, particularly in Churachandpur. Formed to protect tribal identity, land rights, and political interests, it has historically played a central role in mobilising public opinion and negotiating with the state during periods of unrest. Over decades, it has evolved from a cultural platform into a powerful voice in the hill-valley political divide.
What is unfolding is no longer just a supply disruption—it is a humanitarian and political flashpoint. With trust eroding and rhetoric intensifying, the latest warning from the Zomi Council signals that the situation may be approaching a dangerous tipping point unless immediate, visible intervention restores both supply lines and confidence in governance.
