UKHRUL: As the nation marked its 77th Republic Day celebrations, the Kuki-Zo community in Sadar Hills observed the occasion under a cloud of fear and insecurity, following repeated threats and violent actions allegedly carried out by the proscribed Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) faction led by S. Kamson.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, in a press statement issued on Monday, strongly condemned the alleged razing of K. Songlung (II) village in broad daylight by the ZUF.
The committee said the incident raised serious concerns over the security preparedness of the authorities and questioned the constitutional authority of the Governor to effectively contain armed groups and maintain peace in the region.
According to the statement, several Kuki-Zo villages located on the fringes of Kangpokpi district—including Lhangjol, Loibol Kholen, Kharam Vaiphei, and K. Songlung (II)—have repeatedly been treated as “soft targets” by the ZUF faction.
The committee alleged that residents of these villages have been subjected to constant harassment and intimidation under the pretext of policing poppy cultivation.
The CoTU expressed concern over what it described as the government’s continued inaction, stating that failure to take decisive and immediate steps against the ZUF would amount to tacit collusion with “gangsters” operating in the area.
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In view of the prevailing situation, the Committee on Tribal Unity announced that it has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Government of Manipur to apprehend those responsible for the alleged attacks and threats. The committee warned that failure to act within the stipulated time would compel it to take “pre-emptive action.”
As part of the proposed measures, the CoTU said it would impose a total shutdown along Asian Highway-2 (AH-2) and National Highway-37 (NH-37) from midnight of January 27 to midnight of January 28, 2026, without further notice. The committee added that it would not be held responsible for any consequences arising from the shutdown.