Imphal: The Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations (WCKCSOs), Ukhrul, has given the Manipur government a 48-hour ultimatum to end what it described as the selective blockade of essential supplies to Kuki-Zo villages, warning of a total shutdown if its demands are not met.
The deadline began at 12 am on August 3 and will end at 12 am on August 5. The organisation said it would launch an indefinite area shutdown if the movement of food, medicines and other essential commodities is not fully restored by then.
In a statement, the WCKCSOs alleged that certain Tangkhul and Meitei groups had set up checkpoints at Seijang, Yaingangpokpi, Wunghon and Shokvao along National Highway-202, restricting the transport of essential goods meant for Kuki-Zo communities.
The committee claimed that despite several days of protests, the state government had failed to take effective steps to ensure the free movement of supplies along the highway.
Reiterating its demand, the organisation urged the government to immediately restore unrestricted access to essential commodities, warning that failure to do so would result in a complete shutdown across the area once the deadline expires.
The WCKCSOs also clarified that its proposed agitation is independent of the ongoing protest by the United Naga Council (UNC) on National Highway-2.
According to the organisation, while the UNC’s agitation is linked to its demand for justice for six slain Zeliangrong individuals, the WCKCSOs’ protest is focused solely on ensuring the uninterrupted supply of food, medicines and other essentials to Kuki-Zo communities.