Imphal: A media team that went to cover the inaugural function of the 5th State Level Shirui Lily Festival to be held in Ukhrul district returned to Imphal after personnel of the MAHAR Regiment and BSF blocked the Manipur State Transport (MST) bus ferrying journalists at Gwaltabi in Imphal East district.
Director of Information and Public Relations, Manipur arranged the transport service (from Imphal to Ukhrul) for media persons covering the festival.
The obstruction occurred on the inaugural day of the five-day festival, on Tuesday, held for the first time since ethnic violence erupted in the state in May 2023.
The state Transport had issued a notice on May 6 announcing dedicated bus services from Imphal to Ukhrul between May 20 and May 24.
“When we reached a location near Gwaltabi, Imphal East, BSF personnel told us to remove the ‘Manipur State Transport’ signage from the bus. We covered the MST markings with paper. Another team from the MAHAR Regiment arrived and said the bus could not proceed further,” a member of the media team said.
“We were scheduled to cover the festival’s inaugural function at 11 am. How can we cover the event if we are detained until 10 am?”
The media team hired a private vehicle and returned to Imphal.
The other MST bus were also made to spray on the ‘Manipur State Bus’ printed on the bus and were set free by central security forces.
On March 8, MST services had resumed following instruction from Union Home minister Amit Shah’s directive allowing free movement across all roads in Manipur. However, buses were attacked in Kangpokpi district by Kuki-Zo protesters demanding the suspension of MST services in their dominated areas until their demand for a separate administration specifically, a Union Territory is fulfilled.
Security on National Highway 202, which connects Imphal East to Ukhrul, has been handed over to BSF and Army personnel ahead of the festival.
In a public notice issued on Monday, additional deputy commissioner of Ukhrul, Polly Makan, advised all travelers to use the Yaingangpokpi route between 8 am and 4 pm. She said, “Visitors traveling after 4 pm will be escorted by security personnel,” and noted that “no movement will be permitted after midnight to ensure safety and order.”
