UKHRUL: The three-day total shutdown in all Naga-inhabited areas, called by the United Naga Council (UNC) in response to the killing of two Naga individuals in TM Kasom, Ukhrul, along NH-202, has entered its second day.
All Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur have been completely shut down, with no vehicular movement, and all shops and educational institutions remain closed. However, no untoward incidents have been reported thus far.
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Meanwhile, the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) has strongly condemned the incident that occurred at T. Khullen-Changoubung on the first day of the total shutdown.
In a press statement, the FNCC decried the incident, emphasizing that the reckless and provocative actions of the ‘Kuki narco-terrorist groups’ have deliberately undermined peaceful democratic expression represented by the UNC.
“The indiscriminate firing from automatic weapons carried out by Kuki terrorist groups, targeting both security forces and unarmed, peaceful protesters in Naga areas of T. Khullen-Changoubung on April 21, 2026, constitutes a grave and unacceptable escalation,” the statement read. It further stated, “Such acts are not only a direct affront to the values of democracy and restraint but also an open challenge to the dignity, security, and collective will of the Naga community.”
Additionally, the FNCC views the incident as part of a troubling pattern of calculated aggression against Naga villages, which has persisted since May 3, 2023. These repeated provocations have instilled fear, disrupted normalcy, and strained communal harmony throughout the region.
The FNCC also expressed deep dissatisfaction with the government for its failure to rein in the activities of “Kuki illegal immigrants and narco-terrorist groups.” This ongoing inaction has only emboldened these forces, thereby heightening tensions on the ground, it claims.
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In conclusion, the FNCC asserts that, given the circumstances, it can no longer remain a passive observer and is compelled to undertake appropriate measures to safeguard its land, protect its people, and uphold its inherent rights. “In the event of any untoward incident arising from the prevailing situation, the responsibility will rest solely on the Kuki illegal immigrants and their narco-terrorist groups whose actions continue to provoke instability and conflict,” it cautioned.