IMPHAL, AUG 22:

At least 200 passengers from Imphal left for Guwahati on Saturday, a day after transport services resumed along National Highway 2 in Manipur, an official statement said.

The movement of vehicles along national highways in Manipur had been severely affected following the outbreak of ethnic clashes in the state, with members of different communities refraining from travelling to areas dominated by other groups due to safety concerns and blockades.

“The resumption of public transport along the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route via NH-2 continued smoothly on its second day, with more than 200 passengers leaving Imphal in a fleet of 10 vehicles around 10 am,” the statement said.

On August 8, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh, along with his deputy Nemcha Kipgen and MLA Haokholet Kipgen had jointly announced that the free movement of all communities would resume on the national highways.

On Friday, 125 passengers in seven vehicles left Imphal by passing through Kuki-majority Kangpokpi and Naga-majority Senapati along NH-2. They reached Guwahati on Saturday morning.

More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis in Manipur since May 2023. PTI