UKHRUL: The Khulmi Bridge, a Bailey bridge connecting three districts in Manipur, was inaugurated on Wednesday in Gammnom village, located in Chandel District. The bridge spans the Gunpi (Imphal River) at the border between Chandel and Churachandpur districts.
The inauguration has sparked controversy, with some community members and media outlets alleging that the bridge serves as a drug route. In response, the Kuki Inpi Manipur has vehemently refuted these claims.
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According to reliable sources, the bridge was constructed to connect the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal after the Sugnu route was cut off following the 2023 May 3. The entire project was funded through crowdfunding, with an estimated cost of around 3.5 crores, and without any government aid. Reports reveal that the bridge was built in secrecy over a period of one and a half years and serves as the only link among the three districts. This was reportedly the second attempt to build such a bridge; the first, known as the Seloitha Bridge, was halted before completion. Learning from past experiences, the organizers decided to keep this project under wraps to ensure its successful completion.
The inauguration event was attended by members of the Kuki community, including village chiefs, villagers, and civil society leaders. Notably, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) Paolienlal Haokip and Chinlunthang Zou, along with representatives from various Kuki-Zo civil society organizations, were also present. The bridge is dedicated to Kuki-Zo ‘Martyrs’ of the post-May 3 conflict and symbolizes the community’s unity and determination.
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Following the inauguration, the Kuki Inpi Manipur condemned media coverage, particularly from Republic TV, which labeled the bridge as a ‘drug trafficking route.’ In an open letter, they asserted that such coverage amounted to not only poor journalism but also malicious character assassination, deliberate disinformation, and dangerous hate-driven propaganda.
The apex Kuki civil society group reported that at least eight individuals have lost their lives trying to cross the river during emergencies. They emphasized that the Khulmi Bridge was constructed because the Kuki-Zo community refused to allow more children and elders to die while authorities ignored the situation. They also dismissed the allegation that the bridge is a route for drug trade, highlighting that security forces are stationed just 100 meters away.
“The Khulmi Bridge stands as a testament to public sacrifice and government failure. It was built because our people died, the state remained silent, and the community chose to act,” concluded the Kuki Inpi Manipur.
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Conversely, former leader of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Khuraijam Athouba, commented that Manipur is increasingly becoming a gateway for India to the Golden Triangle—the notorious narcotics-producing region. He claimed that the newly constructed bridges are viewed by many as facilitating connectivity to this area. Athouba further contended that the construction is alleged to be illegal, noting a disheartening disparity between the government’s assurances of a ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy against drugs and narco-terrorism and the prevailing ground reality.
