Kuki-Zo protest to continue until highway access restored, say community leaders

Hundreds of Kuki-Zo protesters on June 30 continued their sit-in at Gamgiphai in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, stating that the demonstration will continue until authorities restore the movement of essential commodities along National Highway-2.

The protest follows concerns over the prolonged disruption of traffic on key routes, which community leaders allege has affected the supply of food, medicines and other essential goods to Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

Earlier in the day, protesters marched towards the buffer zone at Gamgiphai with the intention of proceeding further. However, security forces stopped the march at the buffer zone, leading to a brief face-off. Some protesters reportedly sustained injuries during the confrontation and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The situation later eased after officials from the district administration and the CRPF held discussions with community representatives.

Despite the intervention, community leaders announced that the sit-in on NH-2 would continue. They said only emergency services, ambulances and security force convoys would be allowed to pass, while maintaining pressure on the authorities to address their demands.

Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills president Thangminlen Kipgen alleged that the community has not obstructed the movement of essential commodities since the outbreak of the conflict, but claimed that prolonged blockades at Namduilong-Kanglatongbi and other locations have severely affected supplies to Kuki-Zo areas.

He said the community had earlier withdrawn its own shutdown after receiving assurances from the government that normal traffic would be restored. However, he alleged that the promised reopening of the highway has not taken place.

"We have decided to continue this protest until the government ensures the reopening of the highway at Namduilong-Kanglatongbi and other affected locations," Kipgen said.

The protest is expected to continue as community leaders await further action from the authorities on restoring movement along the strategic highway.