NH-2 Structure Demolition Sparks Controversy: Security Calls Them ‘Illegal Bunkers,’ CoTU Alleges Eviction for Highway Expansion

Tensions ran high along National Highway-2 in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district, as security forces launched a pre-dawn operation to demolish several structures near Gamgiphai, the border area between Kangpokpi and Imphal West. The operation, conducted by the Indian Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and Manipur Police, has sparked intense controversy, with security officials citing the destruction as illegal extortion checkpoints while the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) alleging as a targeted eviction drive under the pretext of highway expansion.

The operation, which began at 4 AM, saw the use of bulldozers to dismantle what security forces termed “illegal bunkers and extortion checkpoints.”

It was reported that as the security personnel advanced, a large gathering of Kuki-Zo community members staged a protest, resisting the demolition. The protest led to six arrests as security forces swiftly moved to complete the operation.

In sharp contrast to the official justification, CoTU Sadar Hills has condemned the demolitions, stating that the security forces, under the guise of highway expansion, have created fear and unrest among the Kuki-Zo populace. CoTU asserts that the incident instilled "unnecessary fear among our womenfolk, who have been manning the area since the conflict began."

The Committee has also raised concerns over the security measures being implemented under President’s Rule, accusing the administration of attempting to “forcefully normalize” a volatile situation without addressing core ethnic tensions.

CoTU has reiterated its long-standing accusation that the Kuki-Zo community has been systematically targeted by valley-based insurgent groups and radical militias. The statement alleges that Meitei armed groups have repeatedly violated buffer zones, provoking unrest in tribal-dominated regions like Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, and Jiribam.

Drawing parallels with the Jiribam incident, where heavy security deployment led to violence, CoTU warned against repeating such actions in Kangpokpi. The Committee labeled the recent demolitions as part of a broader campaign of repression and human rights violations against the Kuki-Zo people, vowing to resist any further attempts to marginalize the community.

In a direct appeal to the Governor, CoTU has urged the administration to “refrain from using the same yardstick” in Sadar Hills, rejecting allegations that Kuki-Zo groups are blocking NH-2 and NH-37. The Committee accused the authorities of "projecting the community in a bad light" and demanded an end to what it calls “uncalled-for security measures driven by ethnic bias.”

While the authorities frame the demolitions as part of a law enforcement operation against illegal extortion, CoTU and the Kuki-Zo community see it as another attempt to displace them under the guise of infrastructure development.

With the conflict in Manipur showing no signs of resolution, today’s events mark yet another flashpoint in the fragile peace of the region, raising concerns over the path forward under President’s Rule.