Asem Bhakta Singh, Special Correspondence North East
Imphal: (Waari Singbul Network ) In what can be seen as an initiative to de-escalate the ongoing ethnic tensions in the state, the Manipur government took a pivotal step of resuming the Manipur State Transport’s (MST) inter-district bus services reactivating vital routes connecting Imphal to Senapati via Kangpokpi and Imphal to Churachandpur via Bishnupur.
However, the promising initiative encountered roadblocks orchestrated by Kuki-Zo protestors, preventing the buses from reaching their intended destinations. The impassable barriers led to the unfortunate turnaround of the buses—one at Churachandpur and the other at Kangpokpi.
This significant move by the government to reintroduce inter-district travel garnered widespread appreciation, particularly from non-tribal and neutral tribal natives who saw this initiative as a means of re-establishing crucial connections between the districts in turmoil.
Despite the disruptions, the profound need for such services was echoed by various factions within Manipur’s diverse community.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) and the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, based in Kangpokpi, who are the frontal bodies demanding separate administration following eruption of ethnic clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, expressed dissent over the government’s decision to restart the bus services, citing it as an attempt to project a semblance of normalcy in the strife-torn state. In response, they initiated a district-wide shutdown, halting all vehicular movement through Kangpokpi, amplifying their plea for the withdrawal of this service resumption.
Similarly, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) in Churachandpur announced the sealing of the border between Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts, invoking security concerns amid the upcoming Christmas celebrations. Their claims of potential disruptions during the festive season prompted them to urge locals to refrain from leaving the district from Saturday until January 5 of the following year.
Notwithstanding these challenges, Manipur’s Chief Secretary, Dr. Vineet Joshi, highlighted that the decision to reinstate these services aimed to alleviate the ongoing hardships faced by the populace amidst the persisting turmoil.
Despite the setbacks, the government’s resolute effort to restore these crucial inter-district connections has garnered recognition and gratitude from numerous local residents who await the eventual normalization of the state’s social fabric.
