An economic blockade enforced by Naga organisations over the killing of six Naga civilians continued to disrupt movement of essential commodities along National Highway-2 in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Thursday, with protesters preventing goods-laden vehicles from entering the district at Namdinglong in the Kanglatongbi area.
A large number of demonstrators had gathered at the site, effectively halting supplies bound for Kangpokpi. Members of Meira Paibi groups and several valley-based organisations visited the protest and joined the agitation, further swelling the crowd and increasing the halt to deliveries.
Speaking to reporters, Landingam Kamei, a representative of the Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee Manipur, said the blockade aims to secure justice for the six Naga civilians, whom he alleged were killed by suspected “Kuki terrorists.” He urged indigenous Naga and Meitei communities to unite against what he called “illegal immigrants who are promoting acts of terrorism.”
Kamei told the media the blockade would continue “until and unless” the government delivered justice for the victims. He warned that “serious action” would be taken against anyone, including non‑Manipuris, found transporting goods to people living in Kangpokpi.
According to Kamei, the government had not officially approached the protesters to negotiate an end to the blockade; instead, he alleged that security forces were being used to escort supplies into Kangpokpi. He framed the action as a response to perceived double standards in handling past road closures.
Drawing comparisons with the ethnic conflict that erupted in 2023, Kamei alleged that Kuki groups had previously blocked National Highway-2 for nearly three years, restricting the movement of Meiteis. He said the current Naga-organisations’ blockade followed the alleged killings of the six Naga civilians and questioned why similar restrictions drawn by Nagas for a shorter period had been portrayed differently: “Why are they acting with double standards and playing the victim card?”
Kamei also accused the government of bias against indigenous communities, asserting that Nagas have faced restrictions while travelling through Kuki-dominated areas since the conflict began, often forcing detours to reach Naga villages. He claimed Kuki residents were being escorted under security protection between Kangpokpi and Imphal and were able to travel freely.
The protest has disrupted supply lines into Kangpokpi and raised tensions in the region as demonstrators demand accountability and a government response to their grievances.
