An influential Kuki group on Monday suspended a 12-day “economic blockade” of two national highways connecting ethnic violence-hit Manipur’s Meitei-dominated state capital of Imphal.
Police patrol in Manipur. (AFP/Representative)
The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), which is based in Kangpokpi (a Kuki majority district), imposed the blockade on November 15 in protest against the “indifferent attitude of the concerned authority in dispensing law and order in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas”.
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The blockade in sections connecting Dimapur (Nagaland) and Silchar (Assam) to Imphal hit the supply of goods to Manipur’s capital and other parts of the state.
“The committee announced an economic blockade for the selective execution of law and order in Kuki-Zo areas. However, after considerable deliberation on the issue, the committee taking into understanding the hardship faced by fellow tribals in the area, has decided to temporarily suspend the economic blockade,” COTU said in a statement. It added that COTU will review the suspension and enforce it again if needed.
Violence between Meiteis, who are in majority in Imphal Valley, and tribal Kukis, has since May 3 left 182 people dead and around 50,000 displaced.
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.
