Escalating tensions were reported along the Imphal–Ukhrul route on Monday, July 27, 2026, after escorted vehicles from Ukhrul were stopped and goods seized from commuters at Shangkai, a Kuki village near Litan Police Station on National Highway 202. Sources said the incident occurred at about 10 a.m., and involved passenger vehicles and private cars being forced to halt.
A widely shared video shows women from Shangkai allegedly offloading commodities taken from commuters after stopping the escorted vehicles. Security personnel, including officers of the Manipur police, were visible at the scene. As of this report, no official statement has been issued by the security agencies.
Separately, the Kuki Civil Society Organisations’ Working Committee (WCKCSOs) of Ukhrul announced a counter economic blockade on NH-202 starting at midnight on 26 July 2026, following consultations with Kuki‑Zo civil society groups in Ukhrul and Kangpokpi. The committee said the move was “not a decision born out of choice, but out of compulsion.”
The WCKCSOs said Kuki‑Zo communities in Ukhrul, Kamjong and Kangpokpi have for months faced obstruction of essential supplies while authorities failed to act. After what it described as exhausted peaceful avenues — memoranda, meetings and assurances that did not produce results — the committee said it resolved to enforce the blockade until the government guarantees free movement of essential commodities through concrete action.
The committee outlined limited exemptions during the blockade: medical emergencies, passenger vehicles, travellers en route to flights and security forces will be allowed passage after inspection to ensure no goods are transported. It also ordered the closure of all government and private institutions within the jurisdiction of 14 Kuki‑Zo villages until further notice.
The WCKCSOs expressed regret for the inconvenience caused but held the authorities responsible for the situation, saying prolonged inaction left them no option but this form of democratic protest. The group also urged Kuki‑Zo blockade enforcers to remain vigilant, alleging past double standards in state response to protests by different communities.
