The two highways are lifelines for the landlocked state of Manipur. However, barricades and protests along these roads are choking the supply chain and deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis. At the same time in this age of high speed transport and instantaneous data sharing, Manipur is literally living in Stone Age, thanks to the Government of India and its agencies––Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Empty trucks, not loaded ones, take two to three days to reach Jiribam from Imphal which is a distance of around 220 Kms. Sounds like a joke, right but this is the reality. As for the loaded trucks coming from Jiribam, it takes more than a week to reach Imphal. In this age of engineering marvels, no natural barrier is big or tall enough to stand on the way of human connectivity.
Frequent road blockades along National Highways 2 and 37 are crippling Manipur’s economy and paralysing daily life, as the landlocked north eastern state reels under prolonged ethnic tensions since May 2023.Extortion targeting trucks transporting essential commodities along National Highway-37 continues despite heightened security measures, with fresh reports suggesting armed groups are openly collecting money from drivers even in the presence of security escorts. There have been reports of several armed outfits, rogue groups, and illicit check-gates systematically extracting “taxes” from commercial vehicles at several points along the highway including Awangkhul, Oinamlong, Kambiron, Nungba, and Noney. There was also a report of unlawful elements forcing transporters to pay from Rs 7,000 to as much as Rs 25,000 per trip. Astonishingly, much of this extortion occurs in broad daylight, even as supply convoys travel under the protection of security escorts.
These two highways are not mere transport corridors but lifelines, facilitating the flow of food, fuel, medicines, and relief aid. Today, barricades, protests, and road closures have become a near-daily occurrence, choking the state’s supply chain and deepening an already grave humanitarian crisis. “In some instances, trucks carrying essentials are forced to wait days, even weeks. Even when escorted by security forces, they often arrive late or with missing consignments. The ripple effects are evident across sectors. Local markets have seen the prices of essential goods skyrocket. Many small businesses have shuttered, unable to sustain operations amid erratic supplies and plummeting consumer spending. Hospitals report difficulty in obtaining timely medical supplies. Students miss classes due to travel uncertainties. For countless families, daily life has turned into a struggle for survival. Manipur’s per capita income has fallen to around Rs 7,000, while the national average stands at over Rs 25,000. Inflation has soared, making even necessities unaffordable for many. If law and order aren’t enforced impartially across valley and hill districts, the economic downfall will be impossible to reverse.
Women protesters blocked the National Highway-2 in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Sunday (March 9, 2025), a day after the area witnessed violent clashes between security forces and the Kuki-Zo people that left one person dead. A shutdown observed in the hill district of Churachandpur too affected the movement of vehicles. An indefinite shutdown was called by civil society groups in all Kuki-Zo areas. Violence was reported the first time since the February 13 imposition of President’s Rule on Saturday (March 8, 2025) over the enforcement of free movement of all vehicles through NH-2 and NH-37, which connect the land-locked Imphal valley to Nagaland, Assam respectively. The highways are critical for supply of essentials and other commodities.
For a landlocked state like Manipur, highways are the literal bloodlines of survival. Among these routes, National Highway 37 (NH-37), which connects Imphal with the border town of Jiribam, holds a position of paramount strategic and economic importance.
Whenever the northern artery—NH-2 (Imphal–Dimapur highway) faces blockades or unrest which it often does for months on end, NH-37 remains the sole supply corridor for Manipur. Every grain of rice, every drop of petroleum and every life-saving medicine reaching the Imphal Valley relies on the trucks negotiating this treacherous mountain highway. Yet, despite its critical role, the Imphal Jiribam highway stands as a glaring monument to infrastructural neglect and lawlessness. In fact, the word highway is a misnomer for the Imphal-Jiribam route. It is no better than a mule track at many sections.
The latest incident came to light after a video circulated on social media allegedly showing an armed man in combat gear stopping goods-laden trucks and demanding payments ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000. The incident reportedly occurred on the Imphal-Silchar stretch of NH-37 while a convoy of nearly 150 security vehicles was escorting civilian traffic. The development has raised fresh concerns over highway security, coming days after the Director General of Police, on July 7, directed district police authorities to crack down on illegal extortion along key transport routes. The latest case adds to a series of similar incidents reported in recent months.
In April, the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) was allegedly found issuing printed receipts after collecting Rs 3,000 from truck drivers. In another case reported in May, extortion money was allegedly transferred digitally through Google Pay to a Kuki individual. Sources also alleged that some drivers are being asked to pay money at certain police check gates after officials record their vehicle registration numbers and mobile phone details. These allegations, however, have not been independently verified.
Are we heading again back to the days of long, serpentine queues in front of oil pumps?
We cannot say whether the state is concerned even by a little bit or not but we are more than certain that citizens are deeply worried when transporters engaged in bringing in petroleum and petroleum products announced their decision to go ahead with an indefinite cease work strike from July 31. Extortion on highway is not limited to Imphal-Jiribam route alone. Ironically, it was rampant extortion on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway) which compelled POL transporters to abandon the highway and switch to NH-37 even though the latter is far longer and its condition is horribly bad.
The burgeoning inflation in Imphal, driven by extortion along Manipur’s highways, is a grim reflection of governance failure and unchecked criminal activities. Manipur, a state already reeling under ethnic conflict and economic instability, finds itself grappling with yet another crisis that exacerbates the plight of its citizens. This extortion epidemic is symptomatic of deeper systemic issues. The lack of robust law enforcement and the unchecked operation of armed groups along these routes point to a concerning absence of state authority. While security personnel are deployed along these highways, their effectiveness remains questionable. The inability to curb such activities not only emboldens criminal elements but also undermines public confidence in the state’s capacity to protect its people and ensure economic stability.
The consequences of this extortion go beyond mere financial strain. Inflation caused by highway extortion stifles economic growth, discourages investment, and fuels resentment among the populace. Small businesses in Imphal, which rely heavily on these supply routes, are particularly vulnerable. Many have reported shrinking profit margins or even closure due to the exorbitant transportation costs. This, in turn, has led to job losses, further compounding the economic woes of an already distressed population.
Equally important is the need for political will to address the root causes of these criminal activities. Many armed groups resort to extortion under the guise of funding their operations, citing grievances against the state. Addressing these grievances through dialogue and development initiatives can help mitigate the socio-political factors driving such activities.
Inflation in Imphal, driven by highway extortion and blocked, is a man-made crisis that reflects the failure of governance and law enforcement. Unless decisive action is taken, the economic and social fabric of Manipur will continue to erode, leaving its people to bear the brunt of systemic neglect. The state must act now to reclaim its highways, its economy, and the trust of its people.
Writer can be reached at:sjugeshwor7@gmail.com