Kuki civil society organisations in Manipur have called a four-day shutdown of National Highway 202, citing the lack of credible security measures amid renewed attacks on villages near the India-Myanmar border.
The Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations (WCKCSO) announced that the shutdown would begin at midnight on Sunday, October 18, and continue until midnight on Thursday, October 22. The protest comes after a series of attacks on villages in Kamjong district, which borders Myanmar.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the organisation called on the governments of Manipur and India to move beyond assurances and take concrete measures to protect civilians.
“The governments of Manipur and India must abandon hollow assurances and demonstrate their resolve through decisive, on-ground action before another innocent civilian is killed,” the WCKCSO said.
It also called for security operations to remain lawful and guided by intelligence, with armed groups and their operational infrastructure targeted rather than civilians being singled out on the basis of their community identity.
The shutdown is expected to affect movement along NH-202, also known as the Imphal-Ukhrul road. The highway had served as an alternative route when National Highway 2, a key road link in Manipur, faced disruptions. Access to the routes had been restricted for certain communities following the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023. Restrictions were eased in the second week of August, allowing passenger and goods movement to resume.
The latest protest comes amid worsening tensions between Kuki and Naga groups in parts of the state. The WCKCSO has accused Naga extremists, particularly the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM), of carrying out attacks on Kuki villages near the Myanmar border.
Naga organisations, in turn, have accused Kuki armed groups, including the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma, of attacking Naga settlements.
Relations between the two communities have deteriorated since the beginning of 2026, with incidents involving hostage-taking, road blockades and killings further deepening mistrust. Both sides have blamed each other for more than 40 deaths among their communities since February, according to reports.
The tensions have unfolded alongside the continuing Kuki-Meitei conflict, which erupted in May 2023 and has claimed around 300 lives, according to the figures cited in reports. Violence and displacement have continued to affect parts of Manipur despite changes in the state’s political leadership.
The BJP has faced sustained criticism over its handling of the crisis and its failure to bring lasting peace to the state. Former chief minister N. Biren Singh’s government was followed by President’s Rule before Y. Khemchand Singh took over as chief minister. Despite these political changes, efforts to restore normalcy have yet to bring a lasting end to the violence.
The four-day highway shutdown adds to the challenges facing residents and transport operators in a state where road access has repeatedly been disrupted by ethnic tensions and security concerns.
This article was prepared with AI assistance and is based on information available in the public domain.
