KWOHR Seeks Strict Monitoring of Governor’s NH-2 Order

KWOHR URGES STRICT STATE MONITORING OF GOVERNOR’S ORDER AFTER PIL DISPOSED IN SUPREME COURT

Following the official clearing of the blockade on National Highway-2 (NH-2), the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) demands that the State Government actively monitor and update the ground implementation of the Governor's directives moving forward. This unprecedented, unconstitutional 360-degree encirclement—which choked off the lifelines of the entire Kangpokpi district based purely on ethnicity—was allowed to persist for over three and a half months due to the severe apathy of the state machinery.

CHRONOLOGY OF LEGAL ACTION & APEX COURT PROCEEDINGS

• July 2026 (Filing of PIL): KWOHR approached the Supreme Court of India by filing a Writ Petition under Article 32. Represented by Senior Counsel Anand Grover, assisted by Ajay Kumar and Sakshi Singhania of Triumvir Law, Bangalore, the petition explicitly prayed for the immediate lifting of the blockade and the restoration of essential commodities.

• August 14th, 2026 (First Hearing): Senior Counsel urged that the Union and the State should come together to resolve the issue. Supreme Court impleaded the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as party respondent. KWOHR and International Meitei Organisation (IMO) were directed to submit comprehensive ground level proposals.

• August 28, 2026 (Governor’s Executive Order): In response to growing pressure and legal scrutiny, the Governor of Manipur issued an official order strictly prohibiting road blockades and directing the immediate clearance of all blockaded routes across the state.

• September 26, 2026 (Tripartite Talks): Under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), tripartite talks were held in Guwahati between the United Naga Council (UNC), the Government of Manipur (GOM), and the Government of India (GOI). KWOHR notes with grave concern that no Kuki groups were invited or present at these talks. Furthermore, while the state government issued compensation to the families of 6 Nagas killed, the families of the Kuki Pastors who were brutally killed while participating in peace talks were completely ignored.

• September 28, 2026 (Final Hearing & Disposal): At the second hearing before the Supreme Court, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) representing the State of Manipur submitted a status report confirming the suspension of the NH-2 blockade. Senior Counsel Anand Grover submitted that the petition be disposed of since the primary prayer—the lifting of the highway blockade—had been achieved. The Supreme Court subsequently disposed of the plea, with Senior Counsel insisting that the Governor's August 28 order be executed in letter and spirit on the ground. 

THE HUMANITARIAN FALLOUT OF THE 360-DEGREE ENCIRCLEMENT

Strategic corridors into Kangpokpi district were entirely blocked off, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis where:

• Essential food, fuel, and vital medical supplies were completely choked.
• Emergency ambulances and medical personnel were attacked and medical supplies worth lakhs were destroyed.
• Patients from remote villages were violently denied passage to nearby district hospitals, directly resulting in the tragic, preventable deaths of two infants and two adults.

EXPOSING THE GEOPOLITICAL PRETEXT

The UNC initiated this devastating blockade under the pretext of protesting the killing of six Naga civilians, deliberately ignoring the prior targeted killings of Kuki pastors. The specific strategic locations where Kuki settlements were choked within Kangpokpi district comprise lands occupied by Manipuri Nagas following the systemic ethnic cleansing of the 1990s, where entire Kuki villages were grabbed under the NSCN-IM’s expansionist ideology.

During the blockade as well unarmed defenseless Kuki civilians including women of all ages and pregnant women included were mercilessly gunned down.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

KWOHR extends its deepest appreciation to all Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who stood firm, engaged in vital countermeasures against the UNC blockade, and extended extraordinary humanitarian gestures during these extremely difficult 3.5 months.

Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR)

Communications and Liaison In charge.