Manipur Violence: Blockades on NH 2 Temporarily Lifted by Kuki Groups

IMPHAL: The blockades imposed by Kuki groups on the National Highway 2, which connects Manipur’s capital Imphal with Dimapur in Nagaland, will be ‘temporarily’ lifted, said the protestors.

The temporary lifting of the blockades along the National Highway 2 was termed as a “goodwill gesture” by the Kuki groups in Manipur.

The decision of lifting the blockade was taken by the Kuki groups in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s appeal to the protesting people of Manipur to lift blockades, made just hours earlier.

Amit Shah had made this appeal on Sunday to enable food, medicines, fuel like petrol and diesel, and other essential items to reach the people of Manipur.

All transport of goods has been affected since the blockade was imposed in the aftermath of the violence that has crippled normal life in Manipur.

Kuki groups blocked the national highway 2 in tribal dominated Kangpokpi district of the state, ever since violence broke out in Manipur on May 3. NH 2 is considered as a lifeline for the people of the state.

It was however stated that the temporary lifting of the blockade by the Kuki groups was accompanied by a set of conditions.

The Kuki groups made it clear that only vehicles which are transporting essential commodities and escorted by central forces would be allowed to traverse the blockaded areas.

Moreover, they said, the blockade will be kept in abeyance for a period of four hours only daily, starting from 10 AM and ending at 2 PM.

Another condition laid by the Kuki groups before the government was the warning to suspend the “goodwill gesture” to lift the blockade if the villages belonging to the Kuki community are again “targeted by armed Meitei miscreants”.

Earlier on Sunday (June 04), Union home minister Amit Shah had appealed to the people of Manipur to lift the blockades along the National Highway 2.

“My sincerest appeal to the people of Manipur is to lift the blockades at the Imphal-Dimapur, NH-2 Highway,” said union home minister Amit Shah.

The Union Home Minister made this appeal “so that food, medicines, petrol/diesel, and other necessary items can reach the people” of Manipur.

Union Minister Amit Shah also urged the “civil society organisations do the needful in bringing consensus”.

While making this appeal to the people of Manipur, Amit Shah said, “Together only we can restore normalcy in this beautiful state.”

Meanwhile, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) constituted a committee to investigate the large-scale violence that has wracked Manipur since May 3.

Also Read: 3 member committee appointed to investigate violence in Manipur

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