Tension erupts in Manipur's Kangpokpi as security-escorted food convoy faces resistance

Tension escalated in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district after a security-escorted convoy carrying food supplies, medicines and essential commodities to Kuki-inhabited areas encountered resistance at multiple locations along the Imphal–Tamenglong Road (IT Road), resulting in a prolonged stand-off and delayed movement of supplies.

The developments came even as the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Centre and the Manipur government, demanding the immediate reopening of highways and inter-district roads connected to Kangpokpi to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of essential commodities.

According to local sources, around 28 vehicles transporting food supplies, medicines, other essential goods and private passengers, including women and children, departed from Kangpokpi town under the escort of central security forces on Sunday. The convoy was reportedly stopped at Chawangkining village, a Liangmai Naga settlement located about 14 km from the district headquarters.

Following prolonged negotiations and a tense stand-off, security personnel succeeded in moving the convoy forward. However, the convoy was again intercepted at Thonglang Atongba village, approximately 5–6 km ahead, where blockade supporters allegedly placed nail traps along the route, puncturing the tyres of at least five escorted vehicles and bringing movement to a halt.

The situation intensified as a large gathering, comprising mostly women from Thonglang Atongba and Thonglang Akutpa, assembled at the site, resulting in an extended face-off between protesters and security personnel that continued until late evening.

Officials reportedly attempted to restore movement through negotiations and restraint before eventually deploying crowd-control measures, including smoke shells and tear gas, at around 10.30 pm to disperse the gathering and secure passage for the convoy.

One woman travelling in the escorted convoy alleged that protesters engaged in stone pelting and used slingshots after the vehicles resumed movement from Thonglang Atongba, damaging several civilian vehicles and posing risks to passengers, including women and children.

Additional contingents of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were later deployed to restore order and facilitate movement of the stranded convoy.

A journey that ordinarily takes five to six hours reportedly extended to nearly 24 hours, highlighting operational challenges in delivering food supplies and essential commodities to remote settlements in the Twilang region of Kangpokpi district.

The continued disruption of supply routes has triggered criticism from CoTU, which described the issue as extending beyond law-and-order concerns and raised humanitarian concerns over restrictions affecting access to food, medicines and essential supplies.

A CoTU leader stated that uninterrupted access to food, healthcare and other necessities remains a humanitarian requirement and warned that prolonged disruptions could adversely affect vulnerable groups, including women, children, elderly persons and patients.

Meanwhile, on National Highway-2 at Namdilong Kanglatongbi, another group of blockade enforcers allegedly intercepted and detained Nepali drivers, accusing them of transporting food supplies and essential commodities to Kuki-inhabited areas.

Protesters further alleged that one intercepted vehicle displayed signage identifying it as belonging to the CoTU Medical Team and claimed it was carrying liquor.

CoTU rejected the allegation and condemned what it termed an attempt to discredit its Medical Department. The organisation stated that the intercepted vehicle was not authorised by its medical wing and maintained that its healthcare operations rely exclusively on officially designated ambulances, pickup vehicles and lorries for transporting supplies and evacuating patients.

The committee further alleged that the incident involving the vehicle carrying Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and displaying “CoTU Medical Team” signage was intended to undermine the credibility of volunteers providing healthcare services to Kuki-Zo communities since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.

Demanding accountability, CoTU called on those responsible for the checkpoint to publicly clarify within 24 hours the circumstances surrounding the interception and the alleged use of its name.

The developments have intensified pressure on both the state government and the Centre to ensure secure and uninterrupted movement of essential commodities across national and inter-district routes. CoTU has maintained that continued restrictions on supply lines amount to denial of humanitarian necessities and warned of further measures if normal movement is not restored before the expiry of its ultimatum at midnight on June 29.