Kuki and Naga Apex Bodies in Manipur Issue Joint Peace Appeal Following Village Burning Incident
In a significant development aimed at de-escalating tensions in Manipur, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and the United Naga Council (UNC)—the apex representative bodies of the Kuki and Naga communities respectively—have issued a joint appeal for peace and restraint. This call comes in the wake of heightened communal tensions following a disturbing incident where houses were set ablaze at K Songlung (Part-II) in Manipur's Kangpokpi district.
Violent Attack Sparks Immediate Condemnation and Threats
The immediate trigger for this crisis occurred on Monday when armed miscreants belonging to a faction of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), a Naga militant group, carried out a targeted attack. They set fire to three houses and a vehicle belonging to members of the Kuki-Zo community. The ZUF faction, identified as the Kamson group, quickly claimed responsibility for this act of arson.
In a statement justifying their actions, the ZUF (Kamson) asserted that the burning was part of an ongoing campaign against what they described as "illegal poppy cultivation, narcotics trafficking, and unlawful encroachment by illegal immigrants" within the ancestral, customary, and historical territory of the Zeliangrong Inpui Naga people.
The attack prompted swift and strong reactions from various Kuki-Zo organizations:
- The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) issued a stern warning, threatening to impose a 24-hour total shutdown on the critical Asian Highway-2 (NH-2) and NH-37 if arrests of the perpetrators were not made within 24 hours.
- Other prominent bodies, including the Indigenous Tribal Leader’s Forum (ITLF) and the Sadar Hills Chief Association (SAHILCA), strongly condemned the violent incident.
Conflicting Narratives and Legal Arguments Emerge
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) categorically rejected the ZUF's claims, stating emphatically that K Songlung (Part-II) is a permanent settlement with no history of poppy cultivation. In a strongly worded statement, the KZC argued, "Burning an entire village reflects taking the law into one’s own hands and a deliberate attempt to destroy a community, its homes, and its dignity." They demanded that the ZUF (Kamson) must immediately cease using allegations of poppy cultivation and illegal immigration as a pretext to attack Kuki-Zo villages and encroach upon Kuki-Zo land.
In stark contrast, the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) presented a completely different narrative. They contended that the site was not a legally recognized village but rather consisted of temporary structures allegedly used for poppy cultivation. The FNCC clarified that no village named "K Songlung" was set ablaze.
To bolster their argument, the FNCC cited the Manipur (Hill Areas Village Authority) Act of 1956, which mandates a minimum of 20 households for a settlement to gain legal recognition as a village. They further asserted that the land in question has historically belonged to the Inpui community, adding another layer to the complex territorial dispute.
Joint Appeal for Calm and Justice Amidst Rising Tensions
Amidst these sharply conflicting claims and the palpable risk of further violence, the joint statement from KIM and UNC represents a crucial diplomatic intervention. Both apex bodies have united to:
- Unequivocally condemn the burning of households in Kangpokpi district.
- Urge all communities to exercise maximum restraint and maintain peace.
- Advise against spreading unverified rumors that could inflame the situation.
- Call for ensuring adequate relief and swift justice for the victims affected by the violence.
This collaborative appeal from the top leadership of the Kuki and Naga communities underscores the critical need for dialogue and lawful resolution of disputes in Manipur, a state with a long history of ethnic complexities. The incident at K Songlung has once again highlighted the fragile inter-community relations and the urgent necessity for authoritative intervention to prevent escalation and uphold the rule of law.
