Kuki Body Denies Centre's Announcement Of Free Movement In Manipur
The Kuki Zo Council (KZC) which recently met the Centre has denied allowing free movement on National Highway-2. The KZC's announcement has created confusion since the Centre had in a statement said the KZC "decided to open National Highway-2".
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National Highway-2 runs through Kangpokpi district in Manipur
Guwahati:
The Kuki Zo Council (KZC), which recently engaged in discussions with the Centre, has contradicted claims about permitting unrestricted movement on National Highway-2. This contradiction has generated confusion, as the Centre had previously stated that "KZC decided to open National Highway-2 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods."
The KZC participated in discussions with Home Ministry officials in Delhi shortly before the Centre announced an extension to the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with approximately two dozen insurgent groups.
In a Monday statement, the KZC emphasized that neither Meitei nor Kuki individuals should cross the "buffer zone" under any circumstances, noting that "still no settlement or agreement to the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities" exists.
The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) responded to the KZC's position by stating that the highway is central government property and that blocking it constitutes a violation of fundamental rights.
"TIM urges members of the Thadou community to refrain from any form of mob mobilisation, rioting, or highway blockade along NH-2. The organisation also calls upon the community not to relate rioting and damaging public property with any kind of political stance and avoid being influenced by provocative messages circulating on social media," TIM declared.
Meitei organizations have similarly argued that the constitutional right to freedom of movement is being controlled by insurgents and private organizations rather than enforced by governmental authorities. The Meitei Heritage Society (MHS) released a statement characterizing the Home Ministry's assertion as misleading, contradicted by the official communication from Chin Kuki insurgents who signed the SoO agreement.
"It suggests that the authority to open or close National Highways in Manipur lies with a private organisation and not with the Indian State. The fundamental right to free movement provided by the Constitution will be dictated by insurgents and private organisations, not enforced by the Indian State. This is both embarrassing and unacceptable," stated the MHS, calling for clarification from the Home Ministry.
On Monday, the KZC reiterated its earlier position, stating they have not announced the reopening of NH-2 or permitted free movement.
"Our request was only to the people of Kangpokpi to extend cooperation to the security forces, as directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in maintaining the safety of commuters along NH-2," the council stated on Monday.
"KZC warns that the buffer zone is to be respected at all costs. Any violation will only lead to serious consequences and further deterioration of peace and security..." the Churachandpur-based organization cautioned.
In a joint statement supporting the KZC last week, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF)—the two umbrella organizations representing 24 insurgent groups under the SoO agreement—explained that the KZC's appeal regarding free movement was specifically limited to the Kangpokpi stretch and intended to foster cooperation with central security forces to ensure safe passage of essential supplies.
The Thadou Inpi Manipur stated today that since the SoO agreement has been renegotiated, all signatory groups are expected to comply with its terms, avoiding involvement in or encouragement of highway blockades.
"Thadou Inpi Manipur appeals to all community members to maintain peace, respect constitutional principles, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of NH-2 for the benefit of all..." TIM declared in a Monday statement.
Key organizations representing the Thadou tribe in Assam and neighboring Manipur claim they have been resisting "Kuki supremacists" who allegedly seek to forcibly classify the Thadou—a distinct tribe with their own language and cultural identity—under the Kuki nomenclature to appropriate their linguistic and cultural heritage.
The valley-dominant Meitei community and the Kuki tribes, who predominate in certain hill areas of Manipur, have been engaged in conflict since May 2023 over various issues including land rights and political representation. The violence has resulted in over 260 deaths and the internal displacement of nearly 50,000 people.