Imphal, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A leading Kuki tribal organisation on Tuesday lifted its 16-day-long counter-economic blockade and accompanying total shutdown along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2), a key route connecting Manipur with the rest of the country.
A senior police official said more than 460 goods-laden vehicles, mostly trucks, which had remained stranded for nearly two weeks because of the blockade, resumed their journey after the restrictions were withdrawn.
The decision followed a meeting between a Manipur government delegation led by Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh and BJP MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh and representatives of the Kuki CSO Working Committee (WCKCSO).
NH-2 and the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) are the two major highways connecting the landlocked state with the rest of India.
Govindas Singh said in a social media post that around 460 goods-carrying vehicles stranded because of the blockade resumed their journey towards Ukhrul along NH-2, providing relief to transporters, traders and residents.
“Under the directive of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a meeting was held with the Kuki CSO Working Committee (WCKCSO) at Shangkai Village in Ukhrul district on Tuesday. After a long and detailed discussion, the WCKCSO finally agreed to lift the Counter Economic Blockade and Total Shutdown along National Highway-2,” he said.
The Minister described the reopening of the highway as an important step towards restoring the free movement of people and essential commodities.
The WCKCSO said its counter-economic blockade, which began on July 27 and was intensified into a total shutdown from August 5, was imposed in response to what it described as a selective economic blockade targeting the Kuki-Zo tribal community by certain Tangkhul Naga and Meitei groups along NH-2.
According to the organisation, the government delegation informed it during Tuesday’s meeting at Shangkai that an agreement had been reached between the concerned Tangkhul Naga and Meitei groups to end the alleged selective blockade against the Kuki-Zo community.
A handwritten agreement was also signed between the WCKCSO and the government delegation, under which the latter undertook responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of NH-2 and preventing any group from imposing a blockade or causing disturbances.
“In view of this development and the government’s assurance of free and non-discriminatory movement of essential commodities, the WCKCSO lifted the counter economic blockade and total shutdown from Tuesday afternoon,” the organisation said.
It welcomed the government’s intervention and said it expected the agreement to be implemented in letter and spirit so that no community faces selective economic restrictions.
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