NHRC Seeks Action Report on Alleged Blockade of Manipur’s NH-2

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed authorities in Manipur's Kangpokpi district to submit an action-taken report on allegations of restricted access to National Highway-2, which links Imphal to Dimapur in Nagaland. This follows a petition highlighting persistent obstructions that impede safe passage for civilians. Initially addressed to Imphal West officials in August, the matter was redirected to Kangpokpi counterparts after jurisdictional clarification. The NHRC has set a deadline of January 4, 2026, for a comprehensive response to facilitate further review.

The complaint, filed by Imphal resident Asem Roshan Singh in June, underscores the "ongoing denial of constitutionally guaranteed rights" due to blockades enforced through fear, extortion, abduction, and ethnic targeting on the Kangpokpi stretch of NH-2. Singh emphasized that this centrally maintained highway remains inaccessible to many, particularly Meitei civilians and those outside the dominant community in the district. He argued that such restrictions have severely impacted livelihoods, especially for the economically vulnerable, students, and patients, violating rights to life, liberty, movement, and dignity.

Meitei civil society organizations have expressed intent to approach the Supreme Court, describing the denial of free movement as an "open-and-shut case" of constitutional infringement. They accuse Kuki groups of preventing internally displaced persons from returning to valley areas, thereby perpetuating highway restrictions. Access to Imphal's airport remains open to all, but disinformation is alleged to fuel ongoing tensions. Organizations like the Meitei Heritage Society have criticized the Home Ministry's announcements as misleading, asserting that highway control should rest with the state, not private entities or insurgents.

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Kuki organizations, including the Kuki Zo Council (KZC), maintain that physical separation between communities is essential until a resolution to the Manipur crisis is achieved. They cite the May 2023 violence in valley areas as a deterrent to returns, alongside destroyed homes in hill districts. The KZC has denied claims of permitting free movement on NH-2, insisting on buffer zones to prevent crossings. Travel alternatives for southern Manipur residents involve helicopter services or arduous routes to Mizoram, posing risks for patients with serious conditions.

The ethnic conflict between the valley-dominant Meitei community and hill-dominant Kuki tribes erupted in May 2023 over issues including land rights and political representation. Resulting in over 260 deaths and nearly 50,000 displacements, the violence has fostered zones of lawlessness. Groups like the Thadou Inpi Manipur urge restraint from blockades, emphasizing that NH-2 is central government property and obstructions violate fundamental rights.

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