Kanggui: The Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi has strongly condemned the ongoing selective blockade imposed exclusively against the Kuki community and has issued a final warning to the state government.
In a press statement issued from its administrative office at Kangpokpi on Tuesday, COTU said the Kuki community, despite enduring severe hardship during the prolonged crisis in Manipur, has taken a conscious decision not to impose any blockade in retaliation. According to the committee, this stand was taken on humanitarian grounds to ensure free flow of essential commodities, medicines, fuel and movement of civilians belonging to all communities.
COTU said this gesture of restraint has not been reciprocated. It alleged that groups from the Liangmai and Tangkhul communities are continuing to enforce a targeted blockade that is aimed only at the Kuki community. Vehicles, commercial carriers, and even medical emergency movements are being stopped, checked and denied passage at several points, despite the government declaring that National Highways are open for all.
The committee termed the action as utterly condemnable, inhuman and provocative. It said a blockade that targets one particular community cannot be considered a democratic protest, but is an act of ethnic persecution and collective punishment. The committee stated that it condemns such hypocrisy and inhumanity in the strongest possible terms.
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Cites Government Order
COTU cited the order of the Government of Manipur dated 28th August 2026, issued by N. Ashok Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Home, which strictly prohibits any form of road blockade and warns of prosecution without notice. The committee demanded that the government must enforce its own order immediately and without bias.
It said selective enforcement of law would only worsen the situation and encourage illegal activities on the highways.
Warns of Counter Restriction
Issuing a final warning, COTU said if the government fails to remove the illegal blockade imposed by Tangkhul and Liangmai groups, the Kuki community will have no option but to impose total restriction on the movement of Tangkhul and Liangmai communities in all Kuki dominated areas.
COTU alleged that Tangkhul groups have been behind the prolonged conflict in the state and that the present blockade is being carried out under their direction.
Seeks Justice For All Victims
The committee also raised the issue of justice for victims of the conflict. It said while justice is being sought for six members of the Liangmai community, there are hundreds of innocent civilians from the Kuki community who have been killed during the crisis. The statement mentioned the killing of pastors, women and even a newborn child, which it alleged was carried out by Tangkhul-led armed groups such as NSCN and ZUF-K.
COTU demanded that justice must be impartial and must include all victims, irrespective of community background.
Holds Government Responsible
Concluding the statement, COTU said responsibility for any escalation and its consequences arising out of government inaction will lie entirely with the Government of Manipur and the groups continuing the communal blockade.
The committee reiterated its commitment to peace but made it clear that peace cannot be achieved by singling out and punishing one community. The statement was issued by the Department of Information and Publicity, Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi.
