The KZC has demanded an immediate end to the United Naga Council’s alleged blockade of Kuki-Zo areas, along with impartial investigations into killings and attacks.
BY PC Bureau
August 11, 2026: The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has accused the Central and Manipur governments of failing to provide equal protection and justice to the Kuki-Zo community, citing a series of recent incidents involving alleged attacks, arrests and disruption of essential supplies in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the KZC alleged that the authorities were showing “preferential attention” to the Naga community while ignoring what it described as the “legitimate grievances and suffering” of Kuki-Zo people.
The council cited the summoning of 21 villagers from the Leilon Vaiphei area by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), an alleged attack on Kailenjang village in Kangpokpi district, the continued detention of a civil society leader and a prolonged blockade of Kuki-Zo areas by the United Naga Council (UNC).
The KZC said the 21 villagers had been summoned by the NIA to appear at the Leimakhong Army Camp. It did not specify the nature of the NIA inquiry in its statement.
The council also alleged that Kailenjang village in Kangpokpi was attacked on Monday and that several houses were burnt by suspected cadres of the NSCN-IM.
The KZC further raised the case of a civil society leader associated with the Leimakhong Area Protection Committee (LAPC), who, it said, remains detained at Churachandpur Prison despite having no involvement in any crime.
The council did not provide details of the charges or legal proceedings involving the detained leader.
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KZC targets prolonged UNC blockade
A major part of the KZC’s statement focused on the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council, which the Kuki-Zo body said has continued for more than two months.
The council alleged that the blockade has severely restricted the movement of essential commodities into Kuki-Zo areas, particularly Kangpokpi, and accused the authorities of failing to intervene despite the prolonged disruption.
“Such prolonged deprivation is inhumane, constitutes a grave violation of fundamental rights, and poses a serious humanitarian threat that the government can no longer afford to ignore,” the KZC said.
The council also questioned why those responsible for the blockade had not been arrested.
It said demands reportedly submitted by the UNC to the Manipur government on Monday for lifting the blockade were “unrealistic and irrelevant”.
The KZC asked the government to explain why the UNC had been allowed to continue the blockade for such an extended period and why the disruption of supplies to Kuki-Zo areas had not resulted in arrests.
Questions over alleged killings
The KZC also questioned what it described as unequal official attention to violence involving the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities.
“Why is special attention being given to six Nagas of Manipur, while the killing of 15 Kuki-Zo people, including three pastors, allegedly by Naga militants, receives neither equal attention nor justice?” the council asked.
The statement did not provide details of the 15 deaths or identify specific cases. The allegations were made by the KZC in the context of its demand for what it described as impartial investigations.
The council also asked why the government had not taken action against those it holds responsible for the blockade.
“Why is the United Naga Council (UNC) being allowed to continue its blockade and subject the Kuki-Zo people to prolonged suffering and deprivation?” it asked.
“Why have those responsible for the blockade not been arrested?” the council further questioned.
Demand for equal protection
The KZC called for what it described as equal treatment of all communities under the law and demanded immediate action on several fronts.
Its demands include the release of people it considers to have been wrongfully detained, impartial investigations into the alleged killings of 15 Kuki-Zo people, accountability for attacks on Kuki-Zo villages and the immediate lifting of the UNC blockade.
The council also called for equal protection for Kuki-Zo civilians and said the government must ensure that access to essential commodities is not disrupted by prolonged blockades.
“Justice cannot be selective. Kuki-Zo lives matter,” the council said.
The statement comes amid continuing tensions between Manipur’s major ethnic communities, with competing groups continuing to raise allegations of attacks, discrimination and inadequate government response.
The KZC’s latest statement specifically sought to put pressure on both the Central and state governments to address what it described as unequal treatment and to take action against those responsible for violence and the blockade.
The statement was issued by the Kuki-Zo Council’s Secretary, Information and Publicity.
