Manipur: Kuki body ends 16-day NH-2 blockade, 460 trucks resume movement
Synopsis
After 16 days of a counter-economic blockade that left over 460 trucks stranded on NH-2, Manipur's Kuki CSO Working Committee lifted the shutdown on 11 August following a handwritten government agreement guaranteeing non-discriminatory highway access — a fragile but significant de-escalation in the state's ongoing inter-community tensions.
Key Takeaways
The WCKCSO lifted its 16-day counter-economic blockade on NH-2 on 11 August after a government-brokered meeting at Shangkai Village, Ukhrul district .
More than 460 goods-carrying vehicles , stranded for nearly two weeks, resumed movement towards Ukhrul .
The blockade was enforced from 27 July and escalated into a total shutdown from 5 August , reportedly in response to a selective blockade targeting the Kuki-Zo community.
A handwritten agreement was signed between the WCKCSO and the government delegation, with the administration undertaking responsibility for NH-2 security.
The government delegation was led by Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh and BJP MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh under CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh's directive.
A leading Kuki tribal organisation, the Kuki CSO Working Committee (WCKCSO), on Tuesday, 11 August lifted its 16-day counter-economic blockade and total shutdown along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2), a critical artery connecting the landlocked state of Manipur with the rest of the country. The decision came after a government-brokered meeting and brought immediate relief to stranded transporters and traders.
460 Vehicles Resume Movement
Following the lifting of the blockade, more than 460 goods-carrying vehicles — mostly trucks stranded for nearly two weeks — resumed their journey towards Ukhrul along NH-2. Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh confirmed the development in a social media post, describing the resumption as 'much-needed relief to transporters, traders and the general public.'
Government Delegation Brokered the Deal
The breakthrough followed a meeting held at Shangkai Village in Ukhrul district, convened under the directive of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. The Manipur government delegation was led by Home Minister Govindas Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh. A handwritten agreement was executed between the WCKCSO and the government delegation, under which the government undertook responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of NH-2 and preventing any blockade or disturbance by any group.
Why the Blockade Was Imposed
The WCKCSO, in a statement, said the counter-economic blockade — enforced from 27 July and intensified into a total shutdown from 5 August — was imposed in response to what it described as a selective economic blockade allegedly targeting the Kuki-Zo tribal community by certain Tangkhul Naga and Meitei groups along NH-2. The government informed the WCKCSO at the Shangkai meeting that an agreement had been reached between the Tangkhul Naga and Meitei groups concerned to end that selective blockade.
Significance of NH-2 for Manipur
The Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) and the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) are the two principal lifelines of Manipur, a landlocked northeastern state entirely dependent on road connectivity for essential commodities. Disruptions along either highway trigger shortages of fuel, food, and medicine within days. This blockade, lasting over a fortnight, is among the more prolonged such shutdowns in recent months in the conflict-affected state.
What Happens Next
The WCKCSO stated it appreciated the government's intervention but expected the agreement to be 'implemented in letter and spirit,' with a clear expectation that no community would be subjected to selective economic restrictions in future. The government's written commitment now places the onus squarely on the administration to ensure non-discriminatory movement of essential commodities along NH-2 — a test that will be closely watched by all communities in the region.
Point of View
Not a resolution. The WCKCSO's own statement makes clear that the counter-blockade was a retaliatory measure — meaning the underlying inter-community dispute over selective economic restrictions on NH-2 remains unresolved. A handwritten government assurance is only as durable as the administration's capacity to enforce it in a state where institutional authority has been severely tested since May 2023. The 460 trucks moving again are relief for traders, but the structural fault lines — Kuki-Zo, Tangkhul Naga, and Meitei communities all contesting access to the same highway — have not shifted. Manipur's highway politics are a proxy for deeper ethnic contestation, and each blockade-and-lift cycle risks normalising economic coercion as leverage.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Kuki CSO Working Committee impose the blockade on NH-2?
The WCKCSO imposed the counter-economic blockade from 27 July 2025, saying it was a response to a selective economic blockade allegedly targeting the Kuki-Zo tribal community by certain Tangkhul Naga and Meitei groups along NH-2. The shutdown was intensified into a total blockade from 5 August.
How was the Manipur NH-2 blockade resolved?
The blockade was lifted on 11 August after a meeting at Shangkai Village in Ukhrul district, where a Manipur government delegation informed the WCKCSO that the Tangkhul Naga and Meitei groups had agreed to end their selective blockade. A handwritten agreement was signed committing the government to ensure NH-2's security and non-discriminatory access.
How many vehicles were stranded during the NH-2 blockade?
More than 460 goods-carrying vehicles, mostly trucks, were stranded for nearly two weeks during the blockade. They resumed their journey towards Ukhrul along NH-2 after the shutdown was lifted on Tuesday afternoon.
Why is NH-2 so important for Manipur?
The Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) is one of only two major road lifelines for Manipur, a landlocked northeastern state. Any prolonged disruption causes shortages of essential commodities including fuel, food, and medicine across the state.
Who led the government delegation that negotiated with the WCKCSO?
The Manipur government delegation was led by Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh and BJP MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh. The meeting was convened under the directive of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
