The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday called for the urgent restoration of free movement along the state’s key highways, stating it is essential for advancing the ongoing peace process in the ethnically fractured state.
Speaking to media persons, Manipur Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh highlighted that free movement has remained restricted in Manipur for over 780 days since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023. “Manipur continues to face grave difficulties due to ongoing ethnic tensions and restricted movement,” he said. “If the government restores free movement in the state, it will be a step towards the peace process.”
Singh also criticized the Centre’s failure to implement its March 8, 2025 order allowing free vehicular movement in the state and deploying State Corporation Transport buses under armed escort. “It has remained a directive on paper,” he added.
Following ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities, tribal organisations have strongly resisted allowing unescorted travel along National Highway-2 (Imphal to Dimapur) and National Highway-37 (Imphal to Jiribam), both of which pass through Kuki-dominated areas. These highways are critical lifelines for transporting essential goods, food grains, and medicines into the state.
Currently, security forces are escorting goods-laden trucks and other vehicles along these routes under tight surveillance.
Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal bodies, backed by ten MLAs from their communities, have reiterated that unless their demand for a separate administration—on par with Union Territories—is met, free movement through their areas will not be permitted.
On March 8, acting on a directive from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the state government attempted to resume state-run bus services through Kangpokpi district, a Kuki-Zo stronghold. However, violent incidents in the area forced a suspension of the initiative.
Since the imposition of President’s Rule on February 13, four days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned, the administration under Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has taken multiple steps to normalize the situation. While sporadic incidents have continued in certain pockets, no major violence has been reported in the last four months.
(With inputs from IANS)
