Kuki group announces closure of key Manipur highway after attacks on villages

The Kuki organization in Manipur on Sunday (October 18, 2026) announced a “total shutdown” of state highway 202 for four days to protest the continued violence and “absence of credible security measure”.

NH-202, also called the Imphal-Ukhrul road, was a key alternative route when National Highway-2, Manipur’s lifeline, was closed to certain communities after ethnic conflict broke out between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people in May 2023. These highways were reopened for the movement of passengers and goods from the second week of August.

The call by the Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organizations (WCKCSO) from Sunday (October 18, 2026) midnight to Thursday (October 22, 2026) midnight followed a series of attacks on villages near the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong district of Manipur. At least one person, a Kuki villager, and several others were injured and at least 15 houses were set on fire in the attacks that continued till Saturday (October 17, 2026) night.

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The WCKCSO accused Naga extremists, specifically the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Nagalim Council, of attacking Chassad and other Kuki villages near the Myanmar border. It also said that the attacks in Kamjong and Ukhrul districts were carried out near security forces bases or camps.

“The Governments of Manipur and India must abandon empty assurances and demonstrate their resolve through decisive ground action before another innocent civilian is killed. All operations must remain lawful and intelligence-led, targeting armed cadres and their operational infrastructure rather than civilians based solely on their community identity,” it said on Sunday (October 18, 2026).

The blame game

Naga organizations, on the other hand, have accused armed Kuki groups, including the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma, of attacks on Naga villages. They said at least three Tangkhul Naga civilians were injured in such an attack in Kamjong, the district headquarters, on Saturday (October 17, 2026).

The injured, identified as T. Chithung, S. Malung and M. Shithung, were admitted to a local hospital.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government has replaced Thola Rocky with Jay Barang as Superintendent of Police of Kamjong District. In an order on Sunday (October 18, 2026), the government transferred Mr. Rocky to the Manipur Police Training Center in Imphal East district.

The Manipur Naga Youth Organization condemned the state authorities for transferring Mr. Rocky, allegedly at the insistence of Kuki MLA Kimneo Hangsing. The organization alleged that Ms. Hangsing urged Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to transfer Mr. Rocky because he was a Naga, while “turning a blind eye” to Kuki policemen allegedly involved in the May 13 abductions and murders in Konsakhul (Kangpokpi District).

“The Nagas have long endured the failure of state administration and law and order in the hope of an early return of peace and normalcy, but the present government seems (to be) appeasing only the troublemakers,” the organization said.

Published – 18 Oct 2026 22:10 IST