Frustration among residents of Imphal East escalated into action this week as a 48-hour shutdown was staged to press for long-neglected repairs on the Yairipok–Nongpok Keithelmanbi road. The protest entered its second day today with demonstrators—many of them women—blocking the road and burning tyres in protest. The 12-kilometre road, which connects multiple rural areas, has reportedly remained in a state of disrepair for over two decades.
According to the protesters, residents had sent repeated appeals and waited patiently, but no action had been taken. A memorandum was previously submitted to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanding that road repairs commence within five days. However, the lack of response prompted the shutdown, which impacted several key areas including Azad Golai, Changamdabi, and Top Chingtha.
Although emergency services continued to function during the protest, educational institutions remained closed. Protesters warned that if the government fails to act promptly, they would consider launching an indefinite strike.
