Guwahati: The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Naga tribes in Manipur, on Saturday announced the suspension of its nearly four-month-old economic blockade along the state’s national highways with immediate effect from 6 PM on September 26. The decision came after tripartite talks between the UNC, the Manipur government and the Government of India held in Guwahati on Saturday to discuss the prevailing law and order situation and peace-building measures in the state.
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the UNC said the decision to suspend the blockade was taken following an agreement reached during the tripartite meeting involving the Government of Manipur, the Government of India and the council. “Upon the agreement arrived at in the tripartite talks held amongst the Government of Manipur, the Government of India, and the United Naga Council (UNC) in Guwahati on Saturday, the council hereby announces the suspension of the ongoing economic blockade with effect from 6:00 PM of September 26 today,” the statement said.
The council also thanked various stakeholders, civil society organisations and the general public for the cooperation and solidarity extended during the course of the agitation. The UNC said it had imposed the economic blockade to press for its long-standing demands related to protection of Naga interests, district creation and administrative issues, and that it decided to suspend the blockade in view of the positive assurance given by the Centre and state government during the talks. The details of the agreement are yet to be made public officially.
A delegation of Naga civil society organisations led by the UNC, along with representatives of several Naga organisations from Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel, had left Senapati on Friday and arrived in Guwahati ahead of the meeting scheduled for Saturday. The meeting was convened by the Manipur Home Department and was held at the BSF Frontier Headquarters Officers’ Mess in Garbhanga, Assam. Representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and senior officials of the Manipur government attended the talks along with Naga leaders.
The economic blockade had severely affected the movement of essential commodities, fuel and construction materials along NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway), which are considered lifelines of Manipur. The blockade, which began in early June, had led to sharp increase in prices of essential goods in the valley districts and hill districts alike. Transporters and traders had reported huge losses due to stranded trucks and disruption of supply chains. The suspension is expected to bring immediate relief to the common people ahead of the festive season.
Officials said the tripartite talks focused on the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur, which has been witnessing ethnic tensions since May 2023, and measures for peace-building and restoration of normalcy. The Centre has been holding separate talks with various stakeholders including Kuki, Meitei and Naga groups to find a lasting solution. The UNC had earlier said that Naga areas should not be affected by the ongoing conflict and had demanded protection of Naga ancestral land and identity.
Manipur Chief Minister Khemchand Singh welcomed the decision of the UNC to suspend the blockade and said bandhs and blockades cost Manipur Rs 25-30 crore a day in tax revenue and cause hardship to the common people. He said the government is committed to dialogue and will continue to engage with all civil society organisations for peace and development. MHA officials also appreciated the UNC for taking a constructive step and assured that the issues raised by the council would be examined on priority.
The suspension of the blockade comes amid ongoing efforts involving the Centre, the Manipur government and Naga civil society representatives to address the state’s law and order situation and advance peace-building measures. In recent weeks, several rounds of meetings have been held in Delhi, Guwahati and Senapati to resolve outstanding issues. Naga groups have been demanding early settlement of the Naga political issue and protection of Naga areas in Manipur from any arrangement that may affect their interests.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened along the national highways to ensure smooth movement of vehicles following the suspension of the blockade. Police and central forces have been deployed at key points to prevent any untoward incidents. The Manipur government has appealed to transporters to resume normal services and to traders not to indulge in black marketing. The district administrations of Senapati, Kangpokpi and Tamenglong have been directed to facilitate free movement of goods trucks and passenger vehicles.
The UNC has been playing a crucial role as a mediating body in Manipur’s complex ethnic landscape. While maintaining its demand for Naga integration and protection of Naga identity, it has often called for peace and neutrality in the Meitei-Kuki conflict. With the suspension of the economic blockade, it is expected that supply of essential commodities will normalize in the next 48 hours and prices will come down. Further rounds of tripartite talks are likely to be held next month to discuss the charter of demands submitted by the UNC.
