'We Travelled Peacefully By Road From Imphal To Guwahati'

'People have been facing significant difficulties due to skyrocketing airfares, and road transportation was inaccessible until now.'

In a significant step towards restoring normalcy in conflict-hit Manipur, passenger buses and smaller vehicles resumed services from Imphal to Guwahati via Dimapur on August 21, reopening a crucial inter-state road link that had remained inaccessible for more than three years.

Two buses and five Winger vehicles carrying around 125 passengers left Imphal in the morning and travelled along National Highway 2, one of Manipur's key surface links with the rest of the country.

The convoy travelled under multi-layered security cover through Kangpokpi and Senapati districts before entering Nagaland and proceeding towards Assam.

A journey that had become impossible

The roughly 500 km road journey was once a routine mode of travel for Manipuris heading to Guwahati for education, medical treatment, business and family visits.

However, the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, between the Meitei community of the Imphal Valley and the tribal Kuki-Zo communities in the hills effectively disrupted movement along the route.

Repeated blockades and security concerns left ordinary passengers with few options. Many were forced to rely on expensive air travel or other uncertain means of transportation.

The prolonged disruption further deepened the sense of isolation in the landlocked state, where the violence has claimed more than 200 lives and displaced tens of thousands of people. Over 40,000 people continue to live in relief camps or temporary shelters.

A government spokesperson described the resumption of the road link as an 'important step towards restoring normal life and strengthening connectivity', saying the move had been widely welcomed by the public.

CM's Kangpokpi visit paved the way

The reopening followed a political push by Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who assumed office in February after a year of President's Rule in the state.

On August 8, Singh visited Kangpokpi along with Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Saitu MLA Haokholet Kipgen.

During the visit, the chief minister announced the reopening of the national highway for the free movement of people from all communities and indicated that the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service would resume shortly.

The return of regular surface transport is being seen as an important confidence-building measure at a time when efforts are underway to restore communication and interaction between communities separated by the conflict.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the positive development. 'I welcome all the people who have reached Guwahati from Imphal. The resumption of the bus services is a welcome sign for Manipur and another step forward to normalcy in the beautiful state,' Sarma said on X.

'For the first time, we travelled peacefully'

Passengers who completed the journey to Guwahati spoke of a sense of relief and renewed confidence after travelling through areas that had previously been associated with tension and uncertainty.

"This is a wonderful journey. For the first time, we have travelled peacefully by road from Imphal to Guwahati. This is my first such journey," said Okram Joy Singh, a passenger.

The traveller thanked the Manipur government and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh for facilitating the reopening of the route and praised the efforts made towards restoring peace and normalcy.

Okram Joy Singh also dismissed fears sparked by warnings circulating on social media about possible trouble along the route.

"There were no problems at all. In fact, we felt very proud. As we travelled through the Kuki areas, particularly Kangpokpi, we did not face any hostility," Okram Joy Singh said.

"People were simply engaged in their own activities in the markets and their respective areas. Our vehicle and bus passed through smoothly," Okram Joy Singh added.

'People are beginning to understand each other'

Another passenger, Lingkhim Kipgen, said the journey had generated hope after more than three years of conflict.

"It feels very good because, over the past three years, there has been ongoing conflict between us, like brothers fighting among themselves. Now, people are gradually beginning to understand each other," he said.

He described the chief minister's initiative to reopen the routes and promote reconciliation between the Kuki and Meitei communities as "truly commendable".

"Everyone is happy about it, and I believe that, going forward, we will come together again," Kipgen said.

Relief from soaring airfares

The prolonged disruption had forced people to depend heavily on air travel, with fares often becoming prohibitively expensive, particularly for students, patients and families travelling for urgent reasons.

"This is going to help immensely, both now and in the future. People have been facing significant difficulties due to skyrocketing airfares, and road transportation was inaccessible until now," Kipgen said.

Recalling his apprehension before the journey, Okram Joy Singh said he initially feared there could be problems while passing through Kangpokpi.

"But when we reached Kangpokpi, everyone welcomed us warmly and happily. We did not face any problems at all," he said.

'Let us move past what has happened'

For the passengers, the reopening of the highway was about more than simply restoring a transport service.

It offered a glimpse of the possibility of rebuilding relationships between communities that had been deeply divided by the orgy of violence.

"Let us move past what has happened. What is the point of dwelling on it?" Okram Joy Singh said, while acknowledging that the pain of the conflict would not disappear easily.

"People will naturally remember the pain, as many people from both communities have lost their loved ones. But let us put it behind us," he said.

"Just as we did before, when we all lived together in harmony and love, we will stand strongly united in the end," Okram Joy Singh added.

For a state that has endured more than three years of violence, displacement and isolation, the return of buses on the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route represents a modest but potentially significant step towards reconnecting people -- and rebuilding confidence in travelling across community lines.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff