Ukhrul, June 18: Following the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Kuki-Zo insurgent groups having reportedly reached an agreement on the relocation and closure of at least seven camps which are located near Meitei-populated areas in the foothills of Manipur, the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) has issued a strongly worded statement warning the MHA, the Government of India, and Kuki militant groups against any attempts to relocate Suspension of Operations (SoO) camps into Naga territories in Manipur.
In a press release dated June 18, the FNCC declared that any such move would face fierce resistance and could provoke widespread violence, drawing parallels to the deadly unrest seen on May 3, 2023. The committee demanded the immediate dismantling of existing SoO camps located in close proximity to Naga-inhabited areas, asserting that their presence posed a direct threat to peace and territorial integrity.
“The ongoing encroachment and forceful occupation of Naga ancestral lands under the false narrative of an imagined ‘Kukiland’ is nothing short of aggression,” the FNCC stated. The committee characterized such actions as a “blatant disregard” for Naga history and a “reckless invitation to violence.”
Also read | Kuki-Zo Groups, MHA Agree to Close 7 Designated Camps Near Meitei Areas
The press release also condemned recent unprovoked attacks on Naga villages including Longsai, Kaiphundeijang, Nungnang, and several others. The FNCC accused Kuki groups of engaging in systematic land grabbing across multiple districts, Kamjong, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kangpokpi, Noney, and even into Senapati, suggesting an orchestrated attempt to undermine the identity and territorial rights of the Naga people.
The FNCC criticized what it described as a recurring tactic wherein large-scale attacks by Kuki militants are reframed as local disputes to downplay the severity and suppress the collective Naga response. “We are now vigilant and resolute,” the committee asserted. “Any future aggression will be met with an unwavering iron hand.”
Calling for peaceful coexistence, the FNCC urged the Kuki community to respect the historical context and identity of the Naga people and to refrain from further provocation. The statement concluded with a stern warning: “Further attempts to grab Naga land will come at a heavy price.”