Tensions Rise in Manipur as Naga Women Block Supply Convoy
Escalating Tensions in Kangpokpi District
Hundreds of Naga women block a convoy carrying essential supplies at Twilang. (AT Photo)
Imphal, June 29: Fresh unrest has emerged in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur as numerous torch-bearing Naga women obstructed security forces from escorting vehicles loaded with essential goods to areas inhabited by the Kuki community.
The confrontation escalated when security personnel deployed tear gas and mock bombs after their repeated requests to allow the convoy to pass were ignored.
The most notable standoff occurred at Twilang on Sunday night, where Naga women created a human barrier on the road, halting a convoy that was transporting medicines, food supplies, and other vital items.
Security forces reportedly urged the protesters to let the convoy through. However, after lengthy negotiations failed, they resorted to crowd-control tactics, leading to clashes where tear gas and mock bombs were used to disperse the crowd.
Similar attempts to obstruct the convoy were noted in Thonlang and Atongba village, where demonstrators aimed to prevent the delivery of essential supplies to Kuki-dominated regions.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported during these incidents.
Despite the protests, security forces managed to escort the convoy through the affected areas late Sunday night, ensuring that essential goods were delivered under tight security.
This confrontation arises amid a 48-hour ultimatum from the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), which has demanded the removal of all alleged "unauthorized checkpoints" and restrictions along National Highway-2 within the specified timeframe.
The organization has warned of intensified protests if their demands are not met, claiming that movement restrictions are disrupting daily life and hindering the transport of essential goods to Kuki-Zo areas.
Previously, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) reported that several Kuki-Zo villages are experiencing severe humanitarian challenges due to disruptions in transport and supply routes.
In a recent statement, the council indicated that villages like Chassad and Aishi in Kamjong district have been unable to procure essential goods, while the supply of food and other necessities to Kotlen and Leilon in Kangpokpi district has also been affected.
The council further alleged that blockades and movement restrictions in Naga-dominated regions of Senapati and Namdilong have hindered the transport of food, medicines, fuel, and other essential items, urging authorities to guarantee unhindered humanitarian access to all impacted areas.
The ongoing protests by Naga women are fueled by widespread anger following the abduction and murder of six Naga civilians earlier this month. Since then, torchlight rallies, demonstrations, and road blockades have surged across Naga-inhabited regions of Kangpokpi district.
The bodies of the six victims remain at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) mortuary in Imphal, with Naga civil society groups insisting that the remains will not be claimed until those responsible for the killings are identified and brought to justice.