A tribal body in Manipur has decided to defy the Centre’s bid to facilitate movement on all roads linking the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley to the country beyond.
Two arterial highways and almost all other roads pass through the hills surrounding the Imphal Valley. These hills are largely inhabited by the Kuki-Zo people, caught in a now-dormant conflict with the non-tribal Meiteis since May 2023.
On March 1, in the first high-level meeting on the law-and-order situation in Manipur since the imposition of President’s Rule on February 13, Home Minister Amit Shah directed that free movement be ensured on all roads in the State from March 8. He also sought strict action against anyone attempting to create obstructions.
The Committee of Tribal Unity (COTU), however, decided not to allow free movement until the demand for a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people was met.
At an event held in the Kangpokpi district’s Phaijang Village Cemetery on March 3, COTU general secretary Lammilun Singsit said the Kuki-Zo communities would neither rest nor surrender until separate administration was achieved at any cost.
“The fight for a separate administration will be relentless; we will mobilise, protest, and resist by every democratic means,” he said.
The COTU leader also asked Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to retract his statement against “separate administration”. He also said the Governor’s meeting with members of the Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei radical group, does not determine the fate of the Kuki-Zo people.
The tribal group also said the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of districts dominated by the Kuki-Zo people would be held responsible for “any untoward incident” that may follow the arrest of “village volunteers”.
In a statement, the COTU warned tribal members against betrayal of its cause. “Any individual prioritising personal interests over the collective cause or aligning with the government will be deemed a traitor,” it said.
An official in the State’s capital Imphal said the government was committed to facilitating the free movement of goods and people on the highways. “Any individual or organisation creating hurdles in our efforts to ensure lasting peace in Manipur would be dealt with firmly,” he said.
