The control point at the Imphal West-Kangpokpi boundary, which is the “equalizing zone” between Meitei and Kuki-Zo dominated the Imphal West and Kangpokpi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The National Highway-2 manipur is open for regular operation, but members of the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities do not give up each other. Ethnic clashes between these communities have emerged, but they both seem to rush to the road. Commercial and private vehicles run on the highway that connects the Imphal valley with Dimapur in Nagaland and further to Assam via Hill District of Kangpokpi.
On September 4, the Ministry of the Interior (MHA) announced the opening of the National Highway-2 in the manipur in anticipation of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an ethnic manipure affected by the manipure of 13 September.
Also read | Re-opening NH2 does not mean unlimited movement, let’s say groups Kuki-Zo
On Sunday (September 14, 2025), when Hindu visited the boundary point Imphal West-Kangpokpi, which is the “bumper zone” between Meitei and Kuki-Země districts Imphal West and Kangpokpi, were documented only on the road.
The highway, broken and flying potholes, is the key to bringing basic supplies to the Imphal valley. It is a key way to Imphal Airport, to which Kuki-ZO could not access, because ethnic violence between the two communities broke out in the state of 3 May 2023.
This is one of the two main “balancing zones” in manipuric operation since 2023, but the areas were strictly segregated only after the President’s President’s Rule 13 February. It is provided by the Central Reserve (CRPF) and the Police Manipur. The second buffer zone is between the districts of Bishhnupur and Churachandpur, which requires travelers to exceed seven security points operated by manipur, Assam Rifles, CRPF and Border Security Force (BSF).
In areas where several clashes and violence merged in the valleys and inhabited areas of Kuki-Zo in the hills.
“Running vehicles do not endanger the gap”
The central security officer published in Kangpokpi Check Point said, “Some people may try to travel secretly, but there is no visible movement of people from the community that are in this way.
The police officer published the manipur at the gate on condition of anonymity that the abyss is running deep and the mere operation of vehicles did not overlook the gap.
“When violence broke out, our children and families have been persecuted since Imphal. There were people who climbed them as a police officer, we were helpless. Now who wants to return there?” The police officer said.
Since the time when violence broke out, police and administrative officials from the Meitei community have not been sent in the hills districts and those from the Kuki-ZA community are not published in the valley.
The offer of women to move the shortened
On Saturday, when the Prime Minister closed his speech in Kangla Fort in Imphal, a group of women from Imphal West tried to cross the bumper zone to create the free movement of all vehicles. “The group of women was stopped and introduced into preventive detention because we did not want any undesirable incident to take place during the PM visit,” the official said.
The opening of the NH-2 attempted before 8 March, days after the president’s rule was stored, but encountered violence leading to the death of the protesting Kuki-Zo.
On September 4, MHA announced that the Kukio Council, a conglomerate of civil society organizations, agreed to open the national highway through the Kangpokpi district “for free movement of commuting and basic goods”.
However, the KZC said that the highway has never been blocked and remained open to commuting and for the transport of basic goods and that it is the responsibility of the central government to ensure the safety of bumper zones.
Published – September 2025 20:33
