Kukis renew state demand

Imphal, Nov 12: A hill-based committee today said it would impose indefinite blockade on national and state highways in Manipur to press for carving out a separate Kuki state.

A spokesman of the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) told mediapersons here that they have been demanding a separate Kuki state since 1961 and would launch a series of agitations if this was not done by the central and state governments.

As an initial step, KSDC has called indefinite blockade on the national highways 39 (Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar), the two main roads connecting Manipur with the rest of the country, from November 15.

The spokesman also said the blockade would be imposed on all state highways, adding that Kukis wanted a separate state by carving out Kuki-settled areas in hill districts including Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Churachandpur districts.