Imphal: The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) on Tuesday urged the Manipur government to strictly enforce its August 28 order prohibiting highway blockades following a recent Supreme Court ruling on the movement of essential supplies.
The rights group issued the appeal after the Supreme Court disposed of its writ petition seeking the restoration of uninterrupted supplies to Kangpokpi and other districts affected by road blockades.
In a statement, KWOHR called on the state authorities to maintain continuous monitoring of key highways to ensure that the movement of essential commodities and emergency services remains uninterrupted.
The organisation welcomed the reported reopening of National Highway-2 (NH-2), describing the route as a vital supply corridor for Manipur. However, it stressed that reopening the highway should not be viewed as a temporary or one-time measure.
KWOHR urged the government to put in place regular ground-level monitoring to prevent fresh disruptions to the transportation of food, fuel and medical supplies.
The organisation had moved the Supreme Court in July under Article 32 of the Constitution, citing serious disruptions to supply chains caused by prolonged blockades. The apex court disposed of the petition on September 28 after the Manipur government informed it that transportation along NH-2 had resumed.
KWOHR, however, said the prolonged disruptions had already placed considerable pressure on communities in the affected areas. According to the organisation, residents faced shortages of essential commodities, while medical workers and ambulances encountered difficulties in reaching affected locations. These claims have not been independently verified by state authorities.
The rights group also raised concerns over the tripartite talks held on September 26 involving the Central government, Manipur government and United Naga Council. It pointed out that Kuki representatives were not part of the discussions.
KWOHR further questioned the distribution of compensation to families affected by the violence and acknowledged the role of civil society organisations that provided humanitarian assistance to communities during the ongoing crisis.