Manipur Congress flags fresh Kuki-Naga tensions: The Sadar Hills Congress unit blames the state government for failing to prevent violence and calls for immediate steps to restore trust and normalcy.
BY PC Bureau
September 1: The Sadar Hills District Congress Committee (SH-DCC) has accused the BJP-led Manipur government of failing to contain escalating tensions between Kuki-Zo and Naga communities in the hill districts and called for an inclusive peace process involving political and community representatives from both sides.
In a statement issued from Kangpokpi on Monday, the Congress committee said it was “deeply concerned and disturbed” by the deteriorating relations in villages along the Kangpokpi-Senapati-Noney belt, following a fresh series of killings.
The committee expressed condolences to the families of those killed and said Kuki and Naga communities in the border areas had historically lived alongside each other, sharing workplaces, markets and everyday hardships despite the wider conflict that has gripped Manipur since 2023.
The SH-DCC blamed what it described as the “continuous and total failure” of the state government to contain violence since May 3, 2023, saying the prolonged crisis had created fear and insecurity and left border villages vulnerable to attacks, arson and killings.
It accused the administration of failing to anticipate and prevent the latest escalation and of not responding quickly enough once tensions surfaced.
The Congress unit also criticised the region’s two Deputy Chief Ministers — Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki-Zo BJP MLA from Kangpokpi, and Losii Dikho of the Naga People’s Front from Mao — accusing them of “calling names and finger pointing” instead of engaging in dialogue.
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The statement alleged that the two leaders were attempting to “score political mileage” rather than taking responsibility for defusing tensions.
The criticism follows a series of attacks in and around Kangpokpi. On August 27, five Naga civilians were killed in an ambush on the Imphal-Tamenglong road. Four days later, on August 31, three Kuki civilians, including two women, were killed and four others injured when gunmen attacked N Teikhang village and allegedly set houses on fire.
The latest incidents are part of a broader cycle of Kuki-Naga violence reported across parts of Manipur in 2026, including attacks, abductions and village-level clashes in Kangpokpi, Senapati and Ukhrul.
Four demands
The SH-DCC said restoring peace would require more than “mere rhetoric or administrative formalities” and put forward four demands:
- Immediate steps to contain violence, restore trust and bring normalcy to affected areas.
- Impartial administration and equal protection for members of all communities.
- Firm action against individuals and groups involved in promoting violence and communal hatred.
- Inclusive peace talks involving political representatives and community leaders from both the Kuki and Naga sides.
The committee said it had already proposed such a dialogue to the Kangpokpi district administration.
It also appealed to church leaders, civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth and student bodies from both communities to counter misinformation and promote reconciliation.
The Congress unit urged residents of Kangpokpi and Senapati to choose “non-violence and humanity” and called for an end to retaliatory attacks.
The statement was signed by SH-DCC president Dr Lamtinthang Haokip and working president Andrew Gangmei and concluded with the appeal: “Give Peace a Chance.”
The committee said it remained committed to the interests of all communities and would support genuine efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and communal harmony in the hill districts.
