CoTU warns of blockade if essential commodities don't reach Kuki-Zo areas

The Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District served a three day ultimatum with effect from August 17 to re-imposed highway blockade along National Highway 2 and 37 if essential commodities failed to reach the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

The decision of the CoTU to re-impose the economic blockade along National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur road), and National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam road).

CoTU's Media Cell Coordinator, Ng. Lun Kipgen said that the Union Home Minister during his visit to Kangpokpi under his "Peace Mission" initiative, appealed to the public to open the National Highways passing through Kangpokpi district as a "Goodwill Gesture".


However, contrary to the goodwill gesture, the valley community is still adamant in blocking the supply of essential commodities to the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas, he alleged.

He also said that CoTU is deeply anguished by the abhorrent outcome of the highway politics, as the community is being prevented from assessing essential commodities from the valley including relief materials, medical supplies and other basic goods meant for the Kuki-Zo indicated areas.

He then said that keeping the sentiment of the public intact, the CoTU is compelled to serve an ultimatum of three days to the Government of India to stop the radicalized Meira Paibis and the Meitei extremist groups from blocking goods to transport into Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

He also said that if the essential commodities meant for the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas failed to reach within the stipulated time, we will be compelled to re-impose the already lifted economic blockade along National Highway 2 and National Highway 37.

Around 500 trucks were stranded along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway-37 as landslides, triggered by heavy rains, blocked a few portions of the vital road.

Officials said that the landslides occurred between Irang and Awangkhul - 2, Khongsang and Awangkhul, and Rangkhui village on Wednesday in mountainous Noney district, blocking the NH-37, leaving around 500 trucks -- goods laden and empty ones -- stranded.

District administrations and other authorities have engaged a large number of workers to clear the mudslides from this vital national highway on an emergency basis and to resume movement of traffic.