Kanggui: The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills Kangpokpi, on Sunday announced its full backing to the ultimatum issued by the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Twilang Block, which has demanded unrestricted movement of essential commodities to the Twilang area through the IT Road by September 23. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of CoTU held on September 21 to review the worsening supply situation in interior villages of Kangpokpi district.
According to CoTU, the Twilang area comprises more than 30 Kuki villages that depend entirely on the IT Road, the road connecting Kangpokpi to Tamenglong via Twilang, for food, medicines, fuel and other daily needs. For the last several weeks, villagers have been facing acute shortage because only escorted convoys are allowed. The KSO Twilang Block had submitted a formal ultimatum to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangpokpi, asking that vehicles carrying essential commodities from Kangpokpi to Twilang and other interior areas along IT Road be allowed to proceed without any restriction on number of vehicles by September 23.
In its ultimatum, KSO Twilang Block recalled a communication from the Deputy Commissioner’s office dated August 26, 2026, which had stated that the number of supply vehicles escorted by 112 Battalion CRPF would be increased from two to three. KSO leaders — President Letkhon Chongloi and General Secretary Kaiminthang Khongsai — said that despite the written assurance, the ground situation did not change. Only one convoy of two vehicles was sent after August 26, which is grossly insufficient for more than 30 villages. The student body said this has created artificial scarcity in Twilang.
KSO has also alleged that not only goods vehicles but also movement of civilians is being restricted at Thonglang and Chawangkining along IT Road. Students who travel to Kangpokpi for schools and colleges, patients who need to go to district hospital, and daily wage earners who depend on work in Kangpokpi town are being stopped and harassed. The organisation said such restrictions amount to collective punishment of innocent villagers and violate basic human rights. The ultimatum demanded immediate removal of all such restrictions.
Supporting KSO’s stand, CoTU questioned why the state government is allowing such restrictions to continue even after a clear order from the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) dated August 28, 2026, prohibiting any form of blockade on roads and highways in Manipur. CoTU said the Home Department order was meant to ensure free movement of goods and people across the state as part of trust-building measures, but it is not being implemented on IT Road. The organisation urged the government to implement its own order without delay.
CoTU in its statement said, “Trust-building measures would remain meaningless if corridors of humanitarian supplies towards Kuki habitations are blocked at Thonglang and Chawangkining.” The organisation said while the government has made arrangements for movement of commuters between Imphal and Dimapur along NH-2 and is projecting normalcy, the interior roads like IT Road remain blocked. This selective approach, CoTU said, raises serious questions about the intention of the authorities and undermines the recent efforts of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to reach out to the Kuki community for peace.
The humanitarian impact of the blockade is already severe. Local sources said prices of rice, cooking oil and medicines have doubled in Twilang markets. Many village pharmacies have run out of essential medicines. School attendance has dropped because students cannot travel. Patients with chronic illness are unable to reach hospitals in Kangpokpi. KSO said it has been receiving daily complaints from village chiefs and has no option but to issue an ultimatum to protect the right to life of the people it represents.
If the demand is not met by September 23, KSO Twilang Block has announced two strong actions. First, it will call for a complete stoppage of all vehicular movement along IT Road from September 24 onwards. Second, it will organise a mass public movement from Kangpokpi towards IT Road on September 24 where hundreds of villagers will march to procure essential supplies themselves. KSO said the protest will be peaceful and democratic, but firm. CoTU said it fully endorses both programmes and will mobilise support across Sadar Hills.
The ultimatum letter signed by Letkhon Chongloi and Kaiminthang Khongsai has been forwarded to Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, DIG CRPF Kangpokpi Range, Superintendent of Police Kangpokpi, Commanding Officer of 112 Battalion CRPF, and all civil society organisations in the district. The letter also sought action against officials who are allegedly responsible for enforcing restrictions at Thonglang and Chawangkining and demanded reshuffling of personnel deployed in Twilang area. As of Sunday evening, the district administration has not issued a formal reply, but sources said discussions are on to increase CRPF escort convoys. The next 48 hours will decide whether IT Road returns to normal or faces a total shutdown.
