IMPHAL, JUNE 10: Prominent social worker Ashinpou Gangmei said, “In this ongoing ethnic conflict, both Meiteis and Nagas have also died in defense of their ancestral lands, while the illegal Kuki immigrants have died as land encroachers”. He added by saying, “Here the difference between the first two have died in defence of their ancestral land, people and resources whereas the latter (i.e. the Kukis) have died as illegal land encroachers of the native people”. He then called for unity and cooperation of the native people which he said is the need of the hour. He was speaking at the condolence programme of Chunjanlung Panmei “who was killed by Kuki militants” at Pongringlong Part-I area on Monday.
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The social worker then said Manipur has been witnessing the ongoing ethnic conflict since May 3, 2023 between the Kukis and Meiteis. The spark of the ethnic conflict has started
engulfing the neutral Naga community since February, 2026, perpetrated by the Kukis youth, he also said. “Meiteis and Nagas are the indigenous of Manipur who have been natives of this beautiful state at least for 2 millennia while the Kukis are immigrants from Myanmar whose first batch entered Manipur Territory in 1930-40 onward”, Ashinpou added. Many illegal Kukis immigrants from Myanmar still continue to sneak into Manipur and settle in “our lands”, the social worker also said.
Ashinpou then appealed to both the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to help in protecting the rights of the indigenous people and their lands from the illegal encroachers.
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He then expressed appreciation to Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister of West Bengal for deporting 4800 illegal Bangladesh immigrants to their native country as a first step recently. “I think the Government of Manipur should initiate an appropriate mechanism to identify and deport/ send back all illegal immigrant Kukis”. He said both the MLAs from Meiteis and Naga communities should cooperate so that the indigenous people and their rights are protected.
“If the West Bengal Government could identify and deport the illegal Bangladeshis to their native land why not the Government of Manipur too”? he asked, adding, “No doubt there are reports of illegal Bangladeshis present in Manipur, however, ongoing ethnic crisis in Manipur is caused by the illegal Myanmar immigrants. In politics, stitching late can also save above nine”.
