Highways still blocked in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi as MHA team begins talks with Kuki Zo groups

MHA officials visit Churachandpur for dialogue with Kuki-Zo Council amid clashes and vehicle movement restrictions in Manipur.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials arrived in Churachandpur on Tuesday (March 11, 2025), as the Kuki-Zo dominated district was reopened for economic activities, three days after the violent clashes of March 8. The MHA team is in the hill district to hold a dialogue with the Kuki-Zo Council in order to find a solution to the impasse.

The movement of commercial vehicles, however, remained suspended for the fourth straight day in both Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, the Kuki-Zo dominated districts which flank the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley in the north and south respectively.

Kangpokpi, the epicentre of the March 8 clash between the Kuki-Zo people and central security forces over the enforcement of “free movement” for all vehicles, remained shut as government officials negotiated with civil society leaders. The burial of Lalgouthang Singsit, the protestor who was killed during the violence, is yet to be conducted.

Vehicle movement was briefly allowed in Kangpokpi during the day. By afternoon, however, women protestors had blocked the road again, even stopping security convoys.

The Committee On Tribal Unity (COTU), which is spearheading the protests in Kangpoki, had demanded that the talks with the Central officials be held in that district. However, the MHA team led by A.K Mishra, Adviser, NorthEast, travelled to Churachandpur instead, where the Kuki Zo Council is headquartered. The COTU members also participated in the meeting, which continued till late evening on Tuesday. Further details about the discussions are not known yet. 

Meanwhile, three Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and at least 13 were injured when their bus fell into a gorge at Senapati district in Manipur. The injured jawans were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.

Women protestors in Churachandpur checked vehicles coming from the Meitei-dominated Imphal-Bishnupur side, turning away most vehicles, even those belonging to non-Meitei communities.