Nine Naga MLAs urge HM Shah to scrap SoO pact, arrest Kuki militant leaders
Synopsis
Nine Naga MLAs — including a Deputy Chief Minister — have issued a pointed ultimatum to Home Minister Amit Shah: arrest Kuki-Zo militant leaders, act against a sitting Deputy CM over alleged collusion, and scrap the SoO pact, or lose the Naga bloc's support for the Manipur government. The Centre has already deferred the Census in the state, signalling how precarious the situation has become.
Key Takeaways
Nine Naga MLAs , including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho , wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah on 31 August 2026 demanding action against Kuki-Zo militant leaders.
The legislators sought the arrest of Thangboi Kipgen of the Kuki National Front (KNF-P) over the alleged killing and dismemberment of six Naga men .
They also demanded action against Deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen , alleging her office was 'colluding' with the militant group led by her husband.
The appeal followed an ambush in Kangpokpi district on 27 August in which four Naga men were killed.
The United Naga Council (UNC) called for a boycott of the Census exercise scheduled from 1 September 2026 .
The Union Government deferred Census 2027 operations in Manipur after a review meeting chaired by Home Minister Shah .
Nine Naga legislators of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding immediate action against Kuki-Zo militant leaders, the arrest of those allegedly responsible for the killing and dismemberment of six Naga men, and the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups. The letter, submitted on 31 August 2026, warns that inaction could push Manipur into an 'uncontrollable situation.'
Background: What Triggered the Appeal
The appeal follows an ambush on IT Road in Kangpokpi district on 27 August, in which four Naga men were killed. The legislators linked this attack to what they described as a sustained pattern of violence against Naga civilians and villages, alleging that justice had not been delivered in earlier incidents, including the killing and dismemberment of six Naga men attributed to Kuki-Zo cadres.
The letter described the situation in Manipur as having reached a 'critical and volatile stage,' warning that any failure to take 'unbiased, decisive and bold action' risked pushing the state beyond recovery.
Key Demands: Arrests and SoO Abrogation
The nine legislators specifically sought the arrest of Thangboi Kipgen of the Kuki National Front (KNF-P), alleging that cadres of the outfit — led by a self-styled 'Gen Tiger' Kipgen — were directly responsible for the killings. They further demanded action against Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, alleging that her office was 'colluding' with the Kuki militant group led by her husband, Thangboi Kipgen.
The MLAs also called for the immediate scrapping of the SoO agreement with all Kuki militant groups, citing what they described as repeated violations of the pact and continued acts of terror against civilians. The SoO framework, a tripartite arrangement involving the Centre, the Manipur government, and Kuki militant outfits, has been under scrutiny since ethnic violence erupted in the state in May 2023.
Political Pressure and Veiled Warning
The legislators issued a pointed political warning, stating that unless the measures they sought were initiated, they would be unable to 'defend or adequately respond' to public questions over their continued support to the Manipur government. The statement signals that the Naga bloc's backing of the ruling coalition could be at risk if the Centre does not act.
The appeal was framed as being made 'out of absolute necessity' and in the larger interest of the people of Manipur, while expressing confidence in Home Minister Shah's leadership to restore peace.
UNC Calls for Census Boycott
Separately, the United Naga Council (UNC) — the apex body of Nagas in Manipur — issued a directive asking tribal and community leaders to ensure that villagers extend no cooperation to government officials deployed for the Census exercise, scheduled to begin from 1 September 2026. The UNC directed the Tribal Presidents, the Chandel Naga Peoples' Organisation (CNPO), the Naga Peoples' Organisation (NPO), and the Joint Tribal Council (JTC) to enforce 'strict compliance' with the boycott call through active monitoring.
In a significant related development, the Union Government on Monday deferred Census 2027 operations in Manipur. The decision followed a high-level review meeting chaired by Home Minister Shah at the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, attended by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and other senior officials.
What Comes Next
The twin pressures — the Naga MLAs' ultimatum to the Centre and the UNC's Census boycott directive — add a fresh and combustible layer to an already volatile situation in Manipur. With ethnic tensions between Naga and Kuki-Zo communities showing no signs of abating, the Centre's response to the legislators' demands is likely to shape the political calculus in the state in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
The nine legislators have raised the stakes well beyond a security demand. The Centre's decision to defer the Census in Manipur is a telling signal: the ground situation is fragile enough that even a routine administrative exercise is now a flashpoint. What is missing from mainstream coverage is the structural contradiction at the heart of this crisis — the SoO framework was designed to bring militant groups into a peace process, but critics argue it has instead given armed outfits a degree of political legitimacy that now makes accountability nearly impossible. Until the Centre resolves that contradiction, appeals from any community bloc are unlikely to produce durable calm.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have nine Naga MLAs written to Home Minister Amit Shah?
The nine Naga legislators, including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, have demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah order the arrest of Kuki-Zo militant leaders allegedly responsible for the killing and dismemberment of six Naga men, and that the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups be immediately abrogated. The letter was prompted in part by the killing of four Naga men in an ambush in Kangpokpi district on 27 August 2026.
What is the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement in Manipur?
The SoO is a tripartite ceasefire arrangement between the Centre, the Manipur government, and designated Kuki militant outfits, under which the groups agree to suspend armed operations in exchange for certain concessions. Critics, including the Naga MLAs, allege that the pact has been repeatedly violated and has effectively shielded militant leaders from prosecution.
Who is Thangboi Kipgen and why are the MLAs seeking his arrest?
Thangboi Kipgen is the head of the Kuki National Front (KNF-P). The Naga legislators allege that cadres of his outfit, led by a self-styled 'Gen Tiger' Kipgen, were responsible for the killing and dismemberment of six Naga men. The MLAs also allege that Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen's office is colluding with the group, as Thangboi Kipgen is reportedly her husband.
What is the United Naga Council's stance on the Census exercise?
The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga body in Manipur, has directed tribal and community leaders to ensure that villagers do not cooperate with government officials conducting the Census, which was scheduled to begin on 1 September 2026. The Union Government subsequently deferred Census 2027 operations in Manipur following a high-level review chaired by Home Minister Shah.
What did the Naga MLAs warn if their demands are not met?
The legislators warned that unless the Centre took decisive action, they would be unable to justify their continued support to the Manipur government to their constituents. The warning signals that the Naga bloc's political backing of the ruling coalition could be at risk if the Centre does not respond to their demands.
