Why Did Manipur Police Urge Naga Body to Lift Shutdown?

Imphal, July 30 (NationPress) - The Manipur Police have made an appeal to a prominent Naga organization within the state, urging them to terminate the ongoing shutdown and permit the safe passage of individuals from the Kuki-Zo community through areas predominantly inhabited by Nagas, according to officials on Wednesday.

A police representative disclosed that a significant meeting took place between senior police officials and leaders of the Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) on Tuesday at the police headquarters, focusing on the demands and concerns presented by the committee.

“Following an in-depth discussion regarding the issues raised, the Police Department assured FNCC representatives that all legitimate concerns would be addressed with the utmost seriousness. The Department reaffirmed its dedication to resolving the issues raised in a timely and appropriate manner,” the official stated.

In a bid to maintain peace and public order, the government has also appealed to the FNCC to lift the shutdown that has been enforced in the mountainous regions inhabited by the Naga community. This would facilitate an amicable resolution through ongoing dialogue and cooperation.

The FNCC initiated an indefinite shutdown starting July 18, affecting the movement of Kuki-Zo tribes in the foothill regions of Naga-dominated areas. The FNCC described the shutdown as a peaceful yet resolute protest against perceived threats to their ancestral lands, identity, and security.

According to FNCC Secretary B. Robin Kabui, the primary concern involves the proposed construction of roads through Naga ancestral territories without prior knowledge or consent from the Naga people. The committee has labeled this as a blatant violation of traditional ownership rights.

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), representing the Kuki-Zo tribal community, has previously stated that the German-Tiger road situated in Naga-populated areas serves as a humanitarian lifeline, initiated by Kuki-Zo civil society organizations out of necessity.

KZC’s Secretary of Information and Publicity, Ginza Vualzong, noted that due to ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, it became unsafe for Kuki-Zo individuals to travel through areas dominated by the Meitei community. “Consequently, our community had to revive and enhance an old inter-village track, now known as the German-Tiger Road, to connect the districts of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. Similarly, with Sugnu no longer accessible, we are reliant solely on the Singheu route to maintain connections with Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal, despite the lack of a proper bridge,” Vualzong expressed in a statement.

The KZC has strongly condemned the “groundless and malicious accusations” propagated by certain Meitei groups, labeling the German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road as “drug routes.”

“These allegations are completely unfounded and lack any legitimate evidence. Such narratives not only reflect irresponsibility but are also clearly aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Kuki-Zo community and disrupting the already fragile connectivity between Kuki-Zo inhabited regions of Manipur,” stated the KZC.

The KZC has urged the Central government to dismiss these “divisive and unfounded claims” and instead take measures to enhance the German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road as vital inter-district connections.