Imphal/Ukhrul, August 8: The Foothill Naga Co-ordination Committee (FNCC) has called off its ongoing agitation and blockade in Manipur following a meeting with senior state officials on Friday evening.
The breakthrough came after weeks of rising inter-ethnic tensions in the state, with the FNCC accusing Kuki groups of territorial encroachment and politically motivated development projects.
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A joint statement released after the meeting, signed by officials and four Naga organizations along with N. Ashok Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home), said the two sides had discussed a range of contentious issues. These included alleged unauthorised road construction, concerns over the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, and illegal poppy cultivation.
The FNCC had launched its agitation on July 18, restricting the movement of Kuki-Zo groups through Naga-dominated areas. Among the group’s key demands was a halt to road projects it claimed were carried out without consultation. One such project, referred to as the “German Road,” was flagged by the FNCC for allegedly cutting through ancestral Naga lands.
In the weeks that followed, the Naga body had warned that any move to obstruct National Highway 2 (NH-2) would prompt it to seal off major routes, including NH-2 (Imphal–Dimapur), NH-37 (Imphal–Silchar via Jiribam), and roads linking Manipur with Peren district in Nagaland and the North Cachar Hills in Assam.
Responding to these concerns, the Manipur government clarified that it had neither sanctioned nor approved any of the controversial road projects cited by the FNCC. Authorities assured that any unauthorised construction would be investigated and legal action taken where necessary.
On the issue of the SoO agreement and designated camps, the government further pledged to consult with the Centre and take into account the “interests and concerns” of the Naga communities living in foothill areas.
The meeting also addressed the growing problem of illegal poppy cultivation. The statement noted that the State has been pursuing strict enforcement under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), as part of its ongoing “War on Drugs” campaign.
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The FNCC’s decision to withdraw its agitation follows a separate economic blockade imposed by Kuki civil society organisations on the NH-2 highway in Kangpokpi district. In their statement, the Kuki groups described the Naga bandh as “discriminatory and unjust,” and said their own blockade was a direct response to it.
They added that the blockade would remain in place until the FNCC ended its restrictions and restored unhindered movement along the affected routes.