New Delhi: As a mark of protest against the continuing violence in Manipur, Kuki civil society organisations in strife-torn Manipur has announced a “total shutdown” of National Highway 202 for four days, saying that there is an absence of a credible security arrangement”, reported The Hindu.The Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations (WCKCSO) gave the shutdown call from Sunday (October 18, 2026) midnight to Thursday (October 22, 2026) midnight. The outfit took the decision after a series of attacks on villages near the India-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Kamjong district.“The governments of Manipur and India must abandon hollow assurances and demonstrate their resolve through decisive, on-ground action before another innocent civilian is killed. All operations must remain lawful and intelligence-led, targeting armed cadres and their operational infrastructure rather than civilians solely on the basis of their community identity,” the WCKCSO said in a statement on Sunday (October 18, 2026).The NH-202, which is also called the Imphal-Ukhrul road used to be an important alternative route when National Highway-2, Manipur’s lifeline. It was earlier closed to certain communities ever since the ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023. The highways later reopened from the second week of August for passenger and goods movement.The WCKCSO has accused Naga extremists, particularly the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, of attacking Kuki villages near the Myanmar border.On the other hand, Naga organisations have accused Kuki armed groups, including the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma, of attacking Naga villages.The Naga-Kuki relationship has deteriorated sharply since the beginning of 2026. Apart from hostage taking and blockades, both sides have blamed each other for more than 40 killings of members of both communities since February. Meanwhile, the Kuki-Meitei conflict remains on the boil in parts of the state over three years later. The toll in the Kuki-Meitei conflict has risen to 300.The ruling BJP is facing severe criticism over its handling the crisis and failure to stop incidents of violence. Manipur’s political trajectory over the past three years has seen multiple shifts, but little substantive change on the ground. From N. Biren Singh’s government to a period of President’s Rule, and now under chief minister Y. Khemchand Singh, the promise of restoring normalcy has largely remained stalled.