Imphal: Dozens of commercial truck drivers from Nagaland, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya have remained stranded for more than five days on National Highway-2 in Manipur as rival protests continue to disrupt traffic along the key Imphal-Dimapur route.
The drivers are caught between two protest sites-Namduilong-Kanglatongbi, where a Liangmei Naga group has imposed an economic blockade, and the Gamgiphai Buffer Zone, where Kuki-Zo organisations are staging a counter-protest demanding free movement on the highway.
With the deadlock showing no immediate signs of easing, many stranded drivers have reportedly run out of food. They are facing shortages of drinking water and access to basic sanitation facilities. Although the Manipur government has arranged security escorts to facilitate the return of some drivers towards Imphal, several others remain stuck on the highway.
Amid the prolonged disruption, the Sadar Hills Inland Transporters’ and Drivers’ Union (SHITDU) has provided emergency relief to the stranded drivers by distributing essential supplies, including rice, cooking oil and drinking water.
SHITDU spokesperson Lenpu Chongloi said the union decided to intervene on humanitarian grounds, even though the stranded vehicles were outside its usual area of operation.
“These drivers are performing an essential service for society. They should not be left abandoned in the middle of a confrontation. We rushed to help because humanity comes first,” Chongloi said.
The union also reiterated its commitment to supporting transport workers irrespective of their ethnicity or place of origin, noting that truck drivers often bear the brunt of regional agitations despite having no role in the disputes.
One stranded driver, while thanking the union for its assistance, described the difficult conditions on the highway.
“There are no basic facilities, not even toilets. We appeal to the government to ensure our safe passage at the earliest,” the driver said.
The union has appealed to both protesting groups to ensure that transport workers are not caught in the crossfire of the ongoing standoff. It has also urged the Manipur government to take immediate steps to resolve the impasse and restore the free movement of vehicles on National Highway-2, a vital supply route connecting Manipur with the rest of the country.