Manipur: Resumption of Inter-District Public Transport in Six Districts After 19 Months
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Imphal, Dec 4 (NationPress) Following a hiatus of nearly 19 months, inter-district public transport services have restarted on Wednesday in six districts that encompass both valley and hilly areas, as reported by officials.
The suspension of services was a result of ethnic turmoil that affected the state.
A representative from the Home Department mentioned that with security escorts, public transportation will operate in Imphal West, Imphal East, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Churachandpur, and Bishnupur districts.
The Senapati district, adjacent to Nagaland, is primarily inhabited by the Naga community, while the districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, and Bishnupur are mainly populated by the Meitei community. Meanwhile, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur are predominantly home to the Kuki-Zo-Hmar community.
Since the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities on May 3 of the previous year, public transport had been halted for safety reasons.
Nevertheless, despite the chaos, goods-laden trucks and various vehicles have been permitted to travel along Manipur's crucial highways—the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2)—to guarantee the delivery of essential supplies, including food, medicine, transport fuel, construction materials, and other goods.
Manipur's Chief Secretary, Vineet Joshi, called upon the citizens and all involved parties to cooperate with this initiative and to utilize the four routes (spanning six districts) as normal, urging against any form of violence or illegal activities that could disrupt the transport along these routes.
He stated, “Anyone involved in any disruptive actions affecting the transport of vehicles and the movement of people along these four routes will face strict penalties and prosecution under the applicable laws.”
In a related development, central and state security forces conducted search operations and area control in the hill and valley districts.
On Tuesday, Manipur police arrested four militants from the Kangleipak Communist Party (People's War Group) in Kakching district, seizing numerous firearms and ammunition in the process.
A police spokesperson noted that these militants were engaged in extortion and the illegal possession of weapons.
