The Manipur government's decision to resume public transport between the Meitei-majority valley districts and the Kuki-inhabited hill districts from Wednesday with "adequate security deployment" did not yield the desired result because no passenger turned up.

An official in Imphal said that though there were a few queries, there was no confirmation from commuters. Another official said: “No passenger boarded the bus from Imphal to Senapati via Kangpokpi district. Same for the Imphal-Churachandpur route — no passenger.”

This is the second time since last December that the embattled state government has tried to resume public transport from Imphal to Senapati and Imphal to Churachandpur. The previous attempt failed because of security concerns.

Commuters not showing up on the first day this time reflects lingering safety concerns despite the government's assertion that it has provided adequate security. A reason for passengers not availing of the services could have been the opposition by the Kuki-Zo community in Kangpokpi after the government's decision was made public.

There was a protest on Tuesday afternoon and a 48-hour shutdown from midnight against the government's move to resume public transport. The Kuki-Zos feel that this was an attempt by the government to convey a "picture of normality" which will only compound the ongoing crisis.

The Manipur State Transport buses were scheduled to run from Imphal to Senapati through Kangpokpi and back and from Imphal to Churachandpur via Bishnupur and back.

Senapati is a Naga-majority district, Kangpokpi is inhabited mostly by Kuki-Zos and Imphal by Meiteis. The Nagas and the Maitei Pangals (Muslims) have remained neutral in the ongoing conflict. Imphal is 60km from Churchandpur and 75km from Senapati.

A public appeal issued by the Manipur home department on Tuesday said the state government had reviewed the law and order situation and decided to resume public vehicles with adequate security deployment. It also mentioned the two routes in the appeal.

"Initially the movement will be restricted to fixed hours only and the public desirous of joining the route should contact respective DCs...,” the public appeal said, mentioning the telephone numbers for the Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Senapati, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts through which the vehicles will ply.

The initiative was aimed at alleviating the grievances of the public, the appeal said, while seeking the cooperation of all stakeholders and requesting them “not to resort to any form of violence or illegal acts which will disturb the movement of vehicles along these routes”.

The appeal, however, failed to make an impact on the first day with civil society organisations in Kangpokpi enforcing the 48-hour shutdown.