Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Manipur is facing a severe artificial scarcity of petroleum products due to ongoing bandhs and economic blockades imposed by social outfits representing the Naga and Kuki communities in their respective areas across the state.
The total shutdown has halted vehicular movement, leaving approximately 600 trucks stranded on NH 102, which links Imphal to Guwahati via Kohima,including tankers carrying petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products.
Additionally, over 100 tankers transporting fuel and LPG are stalled at Noney, disrupting the Imphal–Silchar route.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and the United Naga Council (UNC) have enforced these shutdowns following a violent May 13 ambush in Kangpokpi and Noney districts, where three Thadou church leaders and a Naga man were killed and five others injured.
The violence led to dozens of Naga and Kuki individuals being taken hostage. While some have been exchanged, the whereabouts of the remaining hostages,14 Kuki people and 6 Naga individuals, remain unknown, prompting civil bodies to intensify calls for their release.
The blockades have severely choked supply lines, causing some retail outlets to run out of fuel.
The Malom oil depot near Imphal airport has adequate reserves, but officials report a critical shortage of tankers to distribute the fuel. While the blockades are a primary cause of the shortage, sources note that they are not the only factor.
Normally, loaded tankers arrive at the Malom depot before being dispatched to retail outlets. With many of these tankers stranded on the highways, transporters are now expected to load directly from the Malom depot for supply.
However, many transporters have refused to do so, citing that the current loading charges are “too low.”