Imphal, June 23 -- Frequent road blockades along National Highways 2 and 37 are crippling Manipur's economy and paralysing daily life, as the landlocked north eastern state reels under prolonged ethnic tensions since May 2023.

These two highways are not mere transport corridors but lifelines, facilitating the flow of food, fuel, medicines, and relief aid. Today, barricades, protests, and road closures have become a near-daily occurrence, choking the state's supply chain and deepening an already grave humanitarian crisis.

"In some instances, trucks carrying essentials are forced to wait days, even weeks. Even when escorted by security forces, they often arrive late or with missing consignments," said Thiyam Bharat Singh, Associate Profes...