Manipur govt arranges additional heli sorties after road blockade

The State transport department of Manipur on Friday arranged additional helicopter sorties on the Imphal–Ukhrul–Imphal route to address travel difficulties caused by disruptions along the Imphal-Ukhrul section of NH-202.
The scheduled helicopter sorties which would be above the regular sorties will start operating from March 14.
As per an official release of the transport department, there will two additional sorties on March 14 and March 18 above the regular sorties and one on March 15 and 17.
The release said that the additional sorties were being made for the convenience of the general public and the urgent requirement of transportation between Ukhrul and Imphal.
The operation of the sorties will, however, depend on the weather conditions, it added. Passengers were also advised to carry minimum luggage (up to seven kg per passenger), and further asked to contact nodal officer (heli service) at the DC Ukhrul office.
Additionally, for journeys from Ukhrul, one can contact 8732851945 and for journeys from Imphal, the contact number is 7005203080.
“The government of Manipur remains committed to providing seamless transportation services to the people of the state,” the release issued by state transport director Khumanthnem Diana Devi added.
Earlier in the day, MLAs from Tangkhul Naga dominated Ukhrul and Kamjong district – Ram Muivah and Leishiyo Keishing drew the attention of the concerned authorities including the chief minister’s office regarding the matter.
MLA Ram Muivah, in his letter, urged the authorities of the state government for the additional sorties between Ukhrul and Imphal and Imphal and Kamjong in view of the prevailing situation along the NH-202.
“Owing to the unfortunate ongoing crisis, mainly in Mongkot Chepu and Shangkai areas, commuters, especially students appearing exams, patients, pre-book flight travelers, job appointments in various major cities, and professional employees who ply from Ukhrul to Imphal, and from Kamjong to Imphal daily are unable to travel by road for the last two days,” the MLA stated in the letter.
He requested the government to arrange emergency chopper services to-and-for from Ukhrul to Imphal, Kamjong to Imphal daily, and if needed, three or four sorties each daily until the opening of the NH-202 in the interest of the public service.
MLA Leishiyo Keishing also wrote a similar letter drawing the attention of chief minister Y Khemchand Singh.
Notably, normal vehicular movement along the Imphal-Ukhrul road remained disturbed after Kuki villagers blocked the stretch of the road at various places, particularly at Shangkai village under Litan police station of Ukhrul district from Thursday.
The villagers were protesting against the killing of two Kuki youths after they were abducted by armed miscreants at Thawai hill or Mapithel hill range on Thursday.
The killing of the duo has heightened the fresh tensions that flared in the district after 21 Tangkhul civilians were held captive by suspected Kuki militants at Shangkai village on Wednesday.
Following the recovery of the dead bodies of the two persons from the Kuki community, Kuki villagers have blocked the Imphal-Ukhrul road in their areas.
On the other hand, Manipur police said that three separate FIR cases have been registered regarding the series of unfortunate incidents that triggered fresh tensions in Ukhrul district for further investigation into the incidents.
As per the police version, in the morning of March 11, huts located at a poppy cultivation site in the Kuki dominated Mapithel hill range were reportedly burnt and two Kuki poppy cultivators were detained.
It was followed by exchange of gunfire between armed miscreants of Tangkhul and Kuki groups, allegedly using sophisticated weapons. During the incident of firing and scuffle, few youths went missing.
Meanwhile, some vehicles carrying about 21 Tangkhul civilians were detained at Shangkai village by Kuki volunteers along with local women.
In the early morning of March 12, two Kuki civilians who had been detained earlier at Leingangching were rescued by the police and security forces and handed over to representatives of Kuki CSO in the presence of the DC and SP Ukhrul.
Simultaneously, the Tangkhul civilians who were detained earlier were also released and handed over to Tangkhul civil society organisations.
Later, on March 12 morning, security personnel retrieved dead bodies of two missing persons from the jungle area of Mapithel hill range. Their bodies have been brought for further necessary proceedings, the police said. Senior police officers have visited the incident sites and were closely monitoring the situation and adequate security measures have been taken to prevent further escalation.
Area domination and security operations were also being carried out in the area, the police said, while appealing to all communities to maintain restraint and extend cooperation to the police and security forces in restoring peace and normalcy.