Imphal: The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a prominent civil society organisation representing the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, has submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, urging immediate intervention to end the month-long blockade on National Highway-2 and restore the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the district.
A copy of the memorandum has also been submitted to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
In the memorandum, CoTU alleged that the blockade has severely disrupted the transportation of food, medicines and other essential goods from Imphal and Dimapur, causing widespread hardship for residents of Kangpokpi district.
According to the organisation, the blockade has been imposed by Naga groups protesting the killing of six members of the Naga community and demanding early justice in the case.
CoTU said the protest has been enforced at four strategic locations-Namdilong-Kanglatongbi in the south, Chawangkining on the IT Road in the west, Taphou Naga near Senapati in the north, and Yaingangpokpi in the east, effectively restricting movement into and out of the district.
The organisation said the prolonged disruption has led to shortages of essential commodities, affecting nearly 1.95 lakh residents of Kangpokpi district, including members of the Kuki-Zo, Gorkha (Nepali), Poumei and Thangal communities. It urged the Governor to take immediate steps to ensure the unhindered movement of food, medicines and other essential supplies.
Expressing concern over the prevailing security situation, CoTU also called on the state government to take firm action against armed insurgent groups, specifically urging a crackdown on National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), which it alleged has contributed to the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.
The memorandum further identified overlapping police jurisdictions as a key factor aggravating security and administrative challenges in the district. It urged the government to undertake a jurisdictional realignment to eliminate overlapping boundaries involving Kangpokpi, Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Senapati districts.
According to CoTU, such a realignment would improve policing, strengthen law enforcement coordination and help prevent future administrative disputes in sensitive border areas between the districts.
Appealing for urgent intervention, the organisation urged the Governor to address the issues on a priority, warning that the continued blockade and disruption of supply chains could further worsen the humanitarian situation in Kangpokpi if immediate corrective measures are not taken.