It's OK when Kuki women block road!
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: August 02, 2023 -

IN contrast to inquisitive reactions and critical remarks from certain sections of the society, security agencies, national media and government authorities as and when Meetei women vigilantes (Meira Paibi) resort to blocking the roads and checking vehicles of security forces to examine man and material/equipment being transported, there has been muted silence in-spite of Kuki public led by the womenfolk preventing movement of state forces to and from Moreh border town since May first week.

Similarly, the protracted blockade of the national highway in Kangpokpi sector missed the attention of the national media while the central forces made no serious effort to clear the agitators from the highway stretch.

Regardless of Union home minister Amit Shah making an appeal to lift the blockade during his state visit in the later part of May, the blockade remained in force till mid-july.

On paper, the highway siege has ended only for the Kuki volunteers to intensely screen both passenger and commercial vehicles with the latter allowed passage only after coughing up specific amount.

Apart from complaints by various transport operators over collection of unauthorised tax, vehicles engaged in transportation of construction sand in between Dimapur and Imphal ceasing service since last week deepens the suspicion that intention of lifting the blockade is to collect money from the commercial vehicles to aid those at the forefront of waging war against the mandated establishment.

Ironically, such illegal activities are being carried out despite daily updates by the Police Control Room claiming smooth movement of vehicles along the two national highways in the state.

While government authorities, the district police in particular, owe an explanation to the public over failure to prevent such unauthorised tax collection, it is a cause of concern that Kuki women continue to human barricade the route to Moreh in close proximity to massive camps of the Assam Rifles in Tengnoupal district headquarters and near the border town.

Ever since Manipur police personnel stationed in the heart of Moreh sent out repeated distress calls to the higher authorities to despatch replacement or additional personnel in view of hostile attitude of Kuki folks in the border town and shortage of essential commodities, including forced stoppage of water supply to Moreh police station, there has been reports about Kuki women consistent maintaining vigil near the Moreh post of Assam Rifles, where there is a helicopter landing facility, to foil despatch of police reinforcement.

In addition to the virtual siege of the Moreh AR facility, Kuki womenfolk have been blocking the Imphal-Moreh road at Tengnoupal town for nearly a week now in-spite of the AR having a battalion there as well.

Regardless of the fact that the government decided to deploy additional columns of state forces in Moreh following selective dismantling of Meetei houses and commercial outlets by Kuki mobs spearheaded by the womenfolk on July 26, Kuki civil societies have been justifying the road block agitation contrary to the same organisations as well as government authorities, security agencies in particular, alleging instigation and questioning the rationale whenever Meetei women come out to the streets to stall movement of central forces in the valley areas due to suspicion that units of a particular para-military force are hand-in-glove with the Kuki militants.