UKHRUL: The escalating violence in Manipur and Naga-inhabited areas of Northeast India, along with the recent killings of two Tangkhul Naga civilians in Ukhrul district, has drawn sharp criticism from the Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organisation (UNPO).
“UNPO condemns all acts of violence against civilians and calls on the Government of India and the State of Manipur to ensure the protection of civilian populations, conduct an independent investigation into the recent killings, and create conditions for genuine political dialogue,” the organisation stated in an article titled “UNPO Condemns Escalating Violence in Manipur and Calls for Dialogue.”
UNPO is a global platform that amplifies the voices of unrepresented peoples and nations by securing their equal participation on the world stage and safeguarding their fundamental rights. The Nagas have been represented within UNPO since 1993, with the organisation’s secretariat advocating for the rights of the Naga people as a whole.
Referring to the history of the Nagas, UNPO stated that their division across colonial-era borders and the dispersion of more than forty tribes across multiple states have politically marginalized, militarized, and excluded the Naga people from meaningful participation in decisions affecting their land, identity, and institutions.
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The organisation traced the ongoing violence to the beginning of 2026. In late January, renewed friction between Kuki-Zo and Naga groups flared in Kangpokpi district, where homes were burned and a key road was blockaded. The situation further deteriorated between March 23 and 24, when Tangkhul Naga villages in Sikibung and Kamjong were reportedly attacked by armed Kuki militants, injuring civilians and forcing families to evacuate.
UNPO also referred to the ambush of civilian vehicles along National Highway 202 in Ukhrul, in which two Tangkhul Naga civilians were killed. It further highlighted the armed confrontation between Naga and Kuki groups reported at T. Khullen in Senapati district, where local police reportedly attempted to clear a roadblock set up by Naga volunteers enforcing a three-day shutdown across Naga-inhabited areas in protest against the killings.
“These developments underscore the fragility of the situation in Manipur, where long-standing territorial and political disputes between communities have repeatedly erupted into violence,” UNPO stated.
The organisation also criticised the renewed imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) across parts of Nagaland and Northeast India in March 2026. UNPO noted that the law has repeatedly been criticised by UN human rights mechanisms and warned that its extension risks “deepening militarisation rather than creating the conditions for meaningful political resolution.”
UNPO further linked the unrest to the prolonged political stalemate surrounding the 2015 Framework Agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM, which had raised hopes for a settlement recognising “the unique history and identity of the Naga people.”
In recent months, Naga civil society groups have intensified their call for a time-bound political solution and renewed dialogue among communities. According to the organisation it has repeatedly raised these concerns before international human rights bodies, including the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in 2025. The organisation reiterated its demand for the implementation of the 2015 Framework Agreement, the repeal of AFSPA, and a peaceful resolution to the Indo-Naga conflict.
It also appealed to all armed groups in the region to end hostilities, avoid targeting civilians, and resolve differences through peaceful means. It noted that the continuing violence and political deadlock are rooted in deeper issues relating to the rights, identity, and political aspirations of Indigenous communities in Northeast India.
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Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, UNPO urged the Government of India and the State of Manipur to ensure the protection of civilians, conduct impartial investigations into the recent killings, and take concrete steps toward inclusive political dialogue with Naga representatives.