New Delhi: The Manipur government has decided to coordinate with the Indian army and other central security forces to start transporting essential commodities to the hill district of Churachandpur from August 28, The Hindu has reported.

A Manipur government official told the paper that it is ensuring that medical supplies reach the district through aerial routes and with the help of the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles and Manipur Police.

These measures have been taken because the government has been unable to open the land routes within the strife-torn state. Ethnic violence has roiled Manipur since May 3, killing upwards of 150 people and displacing tens of thousands. The state is now divided into territories controlled by Meiteis and Kukis.

At the moment, blockades are on at the National Highway that connects Dimapur and Imphal, and on the Churachandpur Road.

The former began on August 21, and was called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) at Kangpokpi. This has affected the supply of essentials to Meitei dominated places. “However, this is not a critical situation as an alternative route exists to supply the valley,” the Hindu has it.

Access to Churachandpur is blocked by women-led Meitei groups and transporters have refused to ply on their routes citing personal safety, Hindu has reported.

The state government has so far also failed to give access to the airport at Imphal to the hill residents, particularly to the Kuki community. Those located in Kangpokpi district have to wheel down to neighbouring Nagaland to board a flight from Dimapur airport. The Kukis from the Churachandpur area have been taking the day-long road route to Aizawl in Mizoram for air connectivity.

As reported earlier by The Wire, the helicopter service to the Imphal airport from the hill areas has not taken off yet.

The Wire has reported in depth how one of Union home minister Amit Shah’s promises to Manipur, during his visit, was that eight medical teams would be sent there. “These teams will provide health facilities in Moreh, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi areas,” he had said.

However, The Wire has found that 35 people have already died in Churachandpur due to the lack of medicines and proper treatment at the hospital in the district, according to Kuki Khanglai Lawmpi, a Kuki civil society organisation that has been providing medical aid in relief camps.

The Wire has learnt that at the time of publishing the report, there is a shortage of medicines in Saparmeina village in Kangpokpi, and that six people are in immediate need of medical care.

Since the demand for separate administration has been raised by the Kuki community due to the May 3 violence, powerful Meitei civil society organisations like COCOMI have been holding rallies in the valley areas with the counter demand that the territorial integrity of Manipur must be maintained. However, the government’s latest measures to reach one large part of the state aerially only indicates its inability to surmount the territorial divide created post May 3 violence.