After 54 days, movement of vehicles carrying essentials resumed along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) as the economic blockade, imposed by various organisations in the wake of the ethnic violence in Manipur, was lifted on Sunday.
Officials in Imphal said that with the reopening of the NH-2 (via Nagaland), the lifeline of Manipur, the supply of essentials, food grains, transport fuels and life saving drugs would be easier in all the 16 districts of the northeastern state.
After the blockade of the NH-2 since early last month, Manipur was fully dependent on the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) through southern Assam in procuring essentials, food grains, transport fuels, life-saving drugs and other materials from other states of the country.
The United People's Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), in a joint statement, said that they decided to lift the blockade of the national highway passing through Kangpokpi district to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities in Manipur.
The development comes, notwithstanding the anger and anguish of the Kuki-Zo community people, keeping in view Union Home Minister Amit Shah's concern to restore peace and harmony in the state and alleviate the plight of people in general.
The joint statement signed by UPF spokesperson Aaron Kipgen and KNO spokesperson Seilen Haokip said that the decision to lift the blockade was taken after wide-ranging consultations with various civil society organisations, village chiefs, youths and women leaders on several occasions.
It highlighted that Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki Zo communities since May 3 and recurring violence has led to loss of precious lives and destruction of property besides hundreds being injured and thousands being displaced.
The ongoing conflict has disturbed the traditional communal harmony in the state, the statement said, claiming that the Kuki-Zo people have suffered immensely in continued offensives by miscreants and have urged the authorities to protect their lives and properties.
The Kuki Zo organisations had earlier met the Union Home Minister and requested him to provide security in the vulnerable villages in the bordering and foothill areas, the statement said.
Appreciating that central forces have been deployed in most of these areas as assured and the process is in progress, it said: "Once the deployment of central forces is completed in all vulnerable areas, we will ensure that our volunteers are withdrawn from these areas to help restore peace and tranquillity."
It is expected that the concerned authorities will take every measure to maintain peace and ensure supply of essential commodities to the needy, particularly in the hill districts, the statement added.
The statement also appealed to all peace-loving organisations and citizens of Manipur to reciprocate their gesture and take steps towards peace and communal harmony in the state.
Operation Sindoor: PM Modi meets Rajnath Singh, NSA Doval and three service chiefs
In the backdrop of the ongoing ‘Operation Sindoor’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and Chiefs of the Armed Forces and senior officials.
11 more Bangladeshi nationals held in Tripura
The Tripura Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF), jointly with state police, on Friday apprehended 11 more Bangladeshi nationals, including four women and four children, officials said.
Railway Protection Force tightens security in NFR zone
In response to escalating security challenges across the country, Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has significantly strengthened its security protocols at stations, trains and railway premises, an official said on Friday.
India opposes IMF lifeline for Pakistan due to terror financing risk
India strongly opposed further financial assistance from the IMF to Pakistan at the executive board meeting held on Friday, expressing serious concerns over Islamabad’s track record and the fact that the bailouts were enabling the cash-strapped country to sponsor cross-border terrorism.
Sirens echo across Jammu as 'blasts' trigger blackout; CM Omar Abdullah posts urgent advisory on social media
Jammu city plunged into darkness late Friday evening after a series of blasts were heard across the region, prompting authorities to sound emergency alarms and urge citizens to stay indoors.
Enough rice, wheat, sugar, oil and pulses stock, no need to panic: Pralhad Joshi
The government on Friday reiterated that there is no shortage of essential commodities in the country, and citizens are advised not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains.
Indian carriers cancel flights to 24 airports till May 15 as tensions flare up
Indian carriers on Friday announced that flights to 24 airports had been cancelled till May 15, following a notification from aviation authorities on the continued closure of multiple airports in the country.
New low even for Pakistan: India hits out at Islamabad for targetting religious places
As Pakistani troops continued resorting to heavy mortar shelling on the Indian side along the Line of Control (LoC), India on Friday slammed the rogue nation for specifically targetting religious places labelling it as a "new low even for Pakistan".