Manipur government makes second bid in 19 months to resume inter-district public transport services

Imphal: The Manipur government has decided to again operate inter-district public vehicles under tight security from Imphal to hill districts from Wednesday amid a lull in ethnic violence in the state, according to an official order.

This will be the administration’s second attempt to resume public transport service in 19 months in the state which has been witnessing clashes between Imphal valley-based Meitei communities and Kukis who are based in hill districts.

"The state government has reviewed the law and order situation in the state with the availability of security forces, response system and feasibility inputs from different agencies and has decided to resume traffic of public vehicles with adequate security deployment," Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi said in an order.

Public vehicles will be operated from the state capital Imphal to Senapati via Kangpokpi, and from Imphal to Churachandpur via Bishnupur from Wednesday.

While Senapati is a Naga-majority area, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur are Kuki-Zo-majority regions. Imphal and Bishnupur are Meitei-dominated areas.

The "movement will be restricted to fixed hours only and general public desirous of joining the route are informed to contact respective offices of the Deputy Commissioners,” the order said.

"This initiative taken up by the state government is aimed at alleviating grievances faced by the general public in the state," it said.

The state government appealed to the people to cooperate with the administration to this initiative and not to resort to violence.

"Anybody without exemption, if involved in acts which disturb movement of vehicles, will be sternly dealt with and prosecuted as per relevant laws of the land," the order read.

Manipur has remained gripped by recurring bouts of violence since ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis first erupted in May last year. At least 258 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless since then.

Public bus services between Imphal valley and hill districts also stopped at that time.

In December last year, the government made an attempt to run state transport buses to connect Imphal to Senapati via Kangpokpi and Imphal to Churachandpur via Bishnupur.

However, the initiative did not succeed. Almost empty buses plied between Imphal and Churachandpur while Imphal to Kangpokpi vehicles had to return due to barricades put up on the road by protesters.