Manipur Violence: United People's Front, Kuki National Organisation Announce Lifting Of Blockade In Kangpokpi

Since the violence broke out in the state on May 3, the Kuki organisations had kept the NH-2 blocked and was temporarily opened following Shah's visit in late May.

United People's Front and Kuki National Organisation on Sunday announced lifting of blockade at Manipur’s Kangui in Kangpokpi on National Highway-2 with immediate effect. “Keeping in view of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's deep concern to restore peace and harmony in the State and alleviate the plight of people in general, United People's Front and Kuki National Organisation have decided to lift the blockade at Kangui (Kangpokpi) on NH2 with immediate effect to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities in the State,” said the two organisations in joint statement. 

“The decision was taken after wide ranging consultations with Civil Society Organisations, village chiefs, youth and women leaders on several occasions,” said UPF spokesperson Aaron Kipgen and KNO Spokesperson Seilen Haokip in the statement. 

However, another Kuki organisation, Kuki civil society group Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) which also announced a roadblock on NH-2 two months ago, has not made any announcement yet. 

Manipur has two national highways — NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam).

Since the violence broke out in the state on May 3, the Kuki organisations had kept the NH-2 blocked and was temporarily opened following Shah's visit in late May.

The decision to withdraw the blockade came after a recent meeting between the UPF, KNO, and other Kuki groups with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati, as per a PTI report. 

Over a 100 people have been killed in the ethnic clashes which erupted in the northeastern state on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was taken out in the hill districts to oppose the majority Meiteis’ demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list.

"The Kuki Zo organisations had earlier met the home minister and appealed to him to provide security in the vulnerable villages in the bordering and foothill areas. We appreciate that central forces have been deployed in most of these areas as assured, and the process is in progress," UPF and KNO said.

Once the deployment of central forces is complete in all vulnerable areas, the Kuki groups will withdraw their "volunteers" from those places to help restore peace and tranquillity, the statement said.

"We also take this opportunity to appeal to all peace-loving organisations and citizens in the state of Manipur to reciprocate our gesture and take steps towards peace and communal harmony in the state," it added.