Kuki a tribal body in strife-hit Manipur announced on Sunday that it would reimpose the blockade of the vital Dimapur-Imphal National Highway-2 from the early hours of Monday.

The blockade is likely to affect supply of essentials to the valley areas where the Meitei people live.

In the 1970s, there were roughly 12,000 Kuki, a Southeast Asian group residing in the Mizo (formerly Lushai) Hills on the boundary between India and Myanmar (Burma).

The more populous Mizo have largely integrated them, adopting their traditions and languages.

The Kuki historically resided in little towns in the forests, each headed by a chief.

While the other sons of the chief were given women from the community and sent out to create their own villages, the youngest son of the chief received the property that belonged to his father.

The bamboo forests where the Kuki live in seclusion are where they obtain the materials for their homes and crafts. After clearing the ground by burning the jungle, they begin to plant rice.