Kuki Body Slams ‘Illegal’ Security Curbs by Village Authority, Seeks Immediate Nullification

The Ihang-Bungpi Working Committee (IBWC), Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District on Monday launched a scathing attack on a “Security Restriction Notice” issued by the Roudei (T.M. Kasom) Village Authority in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, terming it “unlawful, untenable and a direct challenge to constitutional authority.”

The committee condemned the April 12 directive that allegedly seeks to restrict the entry and functioning of Indian security forces within the village jurisdiction without prior local permission.

Calling the move “a grave overreach,” the IBWC asserted that regulation and deployment of security forces fall strictly under the domain of the State and Union governments and “cannot be dictated by local bodies.”

“The notice stands in direct contravention of established legal and constitutional provisions. Any attempt to control or restrict lawful security operations by a village authority has no legal standing whatsoever,” the statement said.

Citing the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act, 1956, the committee underscored that village authorities are vested only with limited administrative and customary roles such as local dispute resolution and management of village resources, and “do not possess jurisdiction over matters of national security, armed forces deployment, or policing beyond minor local issues.”

The IBWC warned that such directives, particularly in a conflict-sensitive region, could have “serious ramifications” on law and order and potentially undermine ongoing efforts to stabilise the situation and ensure civilian safety.

Raising alarm over the implications of the notice, the committee said any obstruction to security forces could weaken operational effectiveness and expose vulnerable populations to heightened risks.

The IBWC issued a set of urgent demands to the authorities, including immediate cognisance of the matter and declaration of the notice as “null and void,” ensuring unobstructed functioning of security forces, initiating action against those responsible for issuing the directive, and strengthening security arrangements in sensitive areas.

“The authority of the State, the operational freedom of security forces, and the safety of civilians must be upheld at all times,” the statement asserted.

The committee further urged both the Government of India and the Manipur government to intervene without delay and take decisive steps to prevent any erosion of legal and administrative order in the region.