Manipur: Kuki women block plying of more than 500 goods truck on NH-37

Imphal: Several Kuki women-folks blocked the movement of goods-laden trucks and vehicles loaded with petroleum products on the National Highway 37 connecting Imphal to Silchar via Manipur’s border town at Jiribam on Sunday, official sources said.

This is the first time the Kuki women-folks have blocked the movements of the vehicles at Leingangpoki and Torbung areas on the NH 37 when the vehicles loaded with essential items started plying from Jiribam towards Imphal on this NH-37 at around 8:30 am on Sunday, the sources said.

Leingangpokpi and Torbung villages are about 4/5 km from the Jiribam district headquarters.

The escorts of the caravan of goods-laden heavy vehicles belonged to the Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

They are also helpless to render their duties but asked the concerned authorities to make a settlement to this issue before taking necessary actions, the report said.

It is also stated that about, 20-23 armed men suspected to be Kuki militants were behind the Kuki women-folks when they blocked the roads, drivers whose vehicles started to plying on this NH-37 but turned back at Jiribam told the newsmen.

In fear for their lives, the drivers of the vehicles carrying petroleum items and gas cylinders turned back toward Jiribam from these militancy-infested locations.

Reports stated that the militants in the presence of the security escorts blocked the movements of the vehicles on Sunday.

The Drivers’ Union was helpless in such a situation, a driver whose goods-laden vehicle started on the roadside at Jiribam told the newsmen.

As of Sunday, over 500 heavy vehicles loaded with different essential items and petroleum products are stranded at Jiribam owing to the lack of adequate security measures for the protection of their lives.

The drivers reminded of the April 16, 2024 incident on NH 37 in which two drivers got injuries when their vehicle carrying petroleum products was fired upon by the Kuki militants.