NH-02 fraught with risk
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 08, 2023 -

THE divergence of opinion or stand be-tween the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) based in mainland cities and the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) over the latter's announcement to suspend the blockade imposed in Kangpokpi district sector of the National Highway-o2 could be a hint that the transport operators might be targeted anytime regardless of the arrangement for security escorts for the goods carriers.

Unless there is consensus among the Kuki civil societies on whether to lift/suspend the blockade to continue with the same, the drivers cannot take for granted that they wouldn't be harmed while operating on the said route.

With utilisation of state's forces as security escorts for the transporters out of the context at this juncture, it is the personnel of central forces who would be entrusted to ensure safe passage to the drivers and their assistants.

However, taking into account of the fact that violence has been continuing unabated and frequency of armed attacks on civilians as well as state and central forces on the rise in the last few days, there is strong potential that similar to the KSO's outright rejection of COTU's an-nouncement armed disruptive elements might try to exacerbate and exploit the prevailing tense situation as they are the ones who have been firing provocative shots in different parts of the state.

Notably, the Kuki militants, possibly aided by armed foreigners from across the border, seem to be dictating terms when it comes to launching attacks on Meetei villages and burning their houses, not to mention about increasing cases of exchanging fire with the security forces.

Moreover, with the central forces deployed across the state yet to make an impression on the Meetei community that they are here to save the civilians and protect their properties, it is but natural for Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) to caution the transport operators that the NH-02 in Kangpokpi sector remains the flashpoint of fresh violence and driver aren't safe unless the security forces effectively secure the route.

Apart from appeal-ing to the transporters not to take the NH-02 in-spite of the COTU announcing suspension of the blockade and to allow transportation of essential goods, including medicines within the seven-day window period, COCOMI coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba doubted commitment of the security forces to ensure safe movement of the truckers with specific reference to inabil-ity of the central forces to clear the blockade along the 8-km stretch of the NH 2 for over a month.

The coordinator also suspected motive of COTU to reopen the highway with certain restrictions and condemned an organisation controlled by narco-terrorists laying siege on the highway.

There is also substance in the COCOMI's appeal to all transporters to refrain from travelling along the said highway unless the government reopens the highway effectively and provides adequate security as the drivers would be the primary targets for the disruptive elements to vitiate the situation.

That the sit-uation wouldn't be conducive for the drivers to take NH-o2 could also be comprehended from the fact that the KSO has condemned the decision taken by COTU for suspending the blockade and made it clear that any decision taken without the consent of the people amid the prevailing situation will be invalid.