Manipur: Supreme Court disposes of NH-2 blockade PIL as highway reopens

The Supreme Court of India has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the blockade of National Highway-2 in Manipur. The court was informed by the state government that the highway has been reopened, allowing for the movement of essential commodities. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, noted that the situation is essentially a “law and order problem” and directed that any local concerns be reported to the administration. Justice Joymalya Bagchi also emphasized that illegal “subscriptions” collected from truckers must be stopped.

Amidst these developments, former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh reported that over 60 people have been killed in the state since the beginning of 2026, highlighting a continuing cycle of violence. This follows a recent incident in Senapati district where suspected militants killed two Naga civilians.

The broader ethnic conflict in Manipur, which began in May 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement. Official figures presented to the Manipur Assembly indicate that at least 306 people have been killed and 49 remain missing since the start of the wider unrest.