IMPHAL : The Rongmei Naga tribe, an Indigenous Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group residing in Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland, initiated an indefinite blockade of key routes, including NH-37, at midnight on Sunday (August 18).

The decision follows the Manipur government’s alleged failure to fulfill the tribes’ demand for administrative and developmental programs to be shifted from the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts to the Naga-majority Noney district.

The Rongmei Naga Council of Manipur, representing the tribe, described the blockade as a last resort after repeated appeals to the Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, went unanswered. A formal memorandum outlining their demands was submitted on June 15, 2024.

The blockade will affect traffic on NH-37, Leimatak Loktak Project Road, and Tongjei Maril Road in western Manipur.

However, exemptions will be made for medical emergencies, essential services like water and electricity, and educational institutions. The Council has urged public support for the blockade until their demands are met.