Kuki CSOs Issue 36-Hour Ultimatum in Manipur's Kamjong, Threaten Chassad Blockade
The Kuki CSO Working Committee alleged that Kuki residents in the district have faced severe economic hardship for over six months due to restrictions on movement.
Guwahati: A group of Kuki civil society organisations in Manipur’s Kamjong district has given the local administration a 36-hour deadline to address what they call a prolonged economic embargo and movement curbs affecting the community, warning of an indefinite blockade at Chassad if their concerns remain unresolved.
The Kuki CSO Working Committee alleged that Kuki residents in the district have faced severe economic hardship for over six months due to restrictions on movement. These measures, they said, have limited access to essential commodities, disrupted livelihoods and hindered normal daily economic activities. Despite repeated representations to the Deputy Commissioner and other officials by bodies including the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Kuki Women Union (KWU) SEKYO and the Working Committee itself, no effective relief has been provided, according to the group.
In their statement, the organisations claimed they had shown restraint to avoid escalating tensions with the Tangkhul community. They further asserted that Tangkhul residents have continued to use the Chassad route freely to transport goods, while Kukis have faced obstacles.
“Our patience has reached its limit. We can no longer bear the continued hardship and suffering faced by our people,” the committee said. It demanded that the district administration take “concrete and meaningful action” within the 36-hour window to lift the alleged embargo and restore normal economic activity.
The groups warned they would enforce an indefinite economic blockade at Chassad. They clarified that medical emergencies, patients, ambulances, essential medical supplies, Army convoys, telecommunications and Electricity Department movements would remain exempted. The organisations urged their members and the public to maintain discipline and ensure humanitarian traffic is not disrupted.
Calling for impartial administration, dialogue with all stakeholders and immediate intervention, the committee stated that its goal is a peaceful and lasting resolution through official channels. Failure to act, it cautioned, could further worsen the situation in the already sensitive district. The development comes against the backdrop of lingering ethnic frictions in Manipur’s hill areas, where access to routes and resources has periodically become a flashpoint.