The Manipur government has appealed to the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga body in the state, to withdraw its indefinite economic blockade along national highways in Naga-dominated areas.

In a letter to the UNC president on Wednesday, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been engaging with the UNC on concerns over border fencing along the India–Myanmar boundary in Naga-inhabited areas.

“The central government has noted the concerns raised by the UNC and other stakeholders and will continue prior consultations before fencing works are taken up. The next tripartite meeting will be held at a mutually convenient date and venue,” Goel wrote, urging the UNC to withdraw the agitation “in the larger public interest.”

The appeal comes two days after the UNC launched an indefinite ‘trade embargo’ against the fencing works and the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

Official sources said UNC leaders met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla-led team on September 8, where they were urged to reconsider their decision.

Meanwhile, more than 100 goods trucks and fuel tankers carrying essential supplies were stranded along NH-2 (Imphal–Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal–Silchar) in Senapati and Tamenglong districts due to the blockade. Over 70 trucks were also stuck in Jiribam near the Assam border, while blockade supporters offloaded supplies from Imphal-bound trucks at Taphou in Senapati district on Wednesday, officials said.