In what could be termed as a severe blow to the government of Manipur, Kuki CSOs forced MST (Manipur State Transport) buses, under heavy security forces, to return from Kanglatongbi along NH2 and from the Phougakchou area at Tiddim road this morning.
Manipur Chief Secretary, Vineet Joshi, issued a notification stating that strict security measures have been implemented to resume transportation of both passenger and goods vehicles along the Imphal-Kangpokpi-Mao route on NH-2 and the Imphal-Bishnupur-Churachandpur route on Tiddim road, starting today.
Following the notification, the state government authorities have deployed heavy security along the NH-2 between Kanglatongbi and Mao since early morning today. Central paramilitary forces and the state police can be seen stationed along the route.
Emergency shutdown in Kangpokpi
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills (KISH) have imposed an emergency shutdown in Kangpokpi district headquarters in protest against the resumption of Manipur State Transport along NH-2.
The already affected Kangpokpi district headquarters is once again severely impacted, with shops and all forms of business shutting down since early morning today. Womenfolk and volunteers of CoTU and KISH have been seen taking to the highway at Kangpokpi district headquarters, checking every vehicle passing through. Private passenger service vehicles as well as trucks ferrying goods are being checked to determine if they belong to the Meitei community. The Kuki hostile mob, provoked by CoTU and KISH, is also checking the Aadhaar cards of each traveller to identify Meitei individuals.
Although private transporters, including passenger services, have not resumed operations today, the Manipur State Transport (MST) has resumed service along the two routes. One MST bus service between Imphal and Senapati departed from North AOC this morning at around 10:30 am, with some passengers belonging to the Mao and Tangkhul communities. The bus driver was also not from the Meitei community. However, as the bus reached the Kanglatombi area, a large number of volunteers, under the command of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), stopped the bus and forced it to turn back.
On the other hand, the MST bus that departed from Malom to Churachandpur this morning, around the same time, was also forced to return from the Phougakchao area after a large number of people, under the aegis of the ITLF, halted them despite the presence of heavy central security forces.
Earlier, the Drivers’ Union of Manipur had stated that, even though they welcome the government notification for the opening of the NH2, they cannot take the risk if any unwanted consequences happen. However, the Union neither encourages the drivers nor stops them from resuming their service. But said that it would be at the risk of the drivers if wanted to resume service along this route.