Five women arrested in Noney incident, JTC imposes total shutdown
Driver with head injury shifted to ICU
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Noney, September 11 2026: The arrest of five women protesters who were allegedly involved in the pelting of stones at vehicles at Noney which hurt five drivers has triggered the Joint Tribes' Council Manipur to declare an emergency total shutdown of the NH-37 and all Government projects under its "jurisdiction" .

Of the five drivers hurt, four of them were discharged after necessary medical treatment at RIMS while a driver who suffered grievous head injury has been referred to Raj Medicity, where he has been kept in the ICU .

The unfortunate driver in the ICU is identified as Khumukcham Sanamatum of Umathel in Kakching district.

Driver with head injury (File photo)

The five women were arrested today by a combined team of CRPF CoBRA, Rapid Action Police (RAP) and Manipur Police.

The arrested have been identified as Stella Thaimei (42) of Rangkhung village, Noney; Rose Kamei (63) of Noney Bazar; Ellen Kamei (38) of Sibilong village, Tamenglong district; Khamsinliu Phaomei (37) of Longrang village, Noney; and Kumtharla (45) of Khumji-2, Noney.

Notably, a convoy of 150 trucks and fuel tankers being escorted by CRPF from Jiribam to Imphal yesterday amid United Naga Council's economic blockade was attacked with mobs pelting stones at the vehicles at Noney.

Many vehicles were damaged, and five drivers were hurt in the incident.

The United Naga Council (UNC) had imposed the economic blockade from September 9, intensifying its stir demanding justice for six Liangmai Naga men who were found mutilated on June 10, following their abduction from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13 .

Following the violent incident at Noney yesterday, sources said, the five women were arrested by security forces from their respective residences this morning.

The five women have been brought to Imphal, and are being detained at the Women Police Station Imphal West.

They may be produced before the Duty Magistrate late in the evening.

Condemning the arrest of the five women, who the Joint Tribes' Council Manipur (JTCM) claims are innocent, has declared a total shutdown of NH-37 prohibiting all vehicular movements and effectively halting Government projects in all Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei, and Inpui areas.

The JTCM alleged that "the arrest of the peaceful and innocent Naga women is a cowardly act and a direct assault on the democratic rights of the people" .

Instead of cracking down on the culprits who killed and mutilated six Naga men, the security forces have targeted Naga civilians and attacked Naga Village Guards, said the JTCM .

The council demanded immediate and unconditional release of the five women.

The JTCM will be compelled to take "stringent action" if the women are not released.

The responsibility for any consequences arising from failure to release the women shall rest squarely on the CRPF CoBRA, Government of Manipur and the Government of India, it said.

Any individual, group, or organisation that violates or goes against the shutdown declared shall be treated as a traitor to the Naga people's cause, it added.

Even as the JTCM has declared shutdown of the NH-37, the United Naga Council's economic blockade, imposed demanding justice for six Liangmai Naga men, is still in force.

The drivers' hands-off steering wheel stir, announced yesterday in the aftermath of the Noney incident, is also in force.