The Broken Coexistence as a result of Tangkhul-led NSCN Self-interest

The conflict that continues to affect parts of Manipur today can be traced back nearly a year to the Kuki-inhabited villages of Leilon, Kharam Vaiphei, and the Kangchup areas of Kangpokpi District, where Tangkhul militant groups allegedly initiated a localized unrest that gradually escalated into a wider and more violent confrontation within a matter of months.

Historical accounts and collective memories within the Kuki-Zo community trace the violence allegedly perpetrated by Tangkhul militant groups, particularly the NSCN-IM, back to the early 1990s. According to these accounts, the pursuit of what many describe as a hollow political agenda, allegedly pursued at the cost of innocent Kuki lives, has remained persistent over the decades and continues to manifest even today.

During the course of these conflicts, the Kuki community is said to have suffered the loss of numerous villages, men, and women, allegedly as a result of the NSCN-IM’s objective of “Territorial Expansion for Greater Nagaland.” Consequently, the community continues to bear the pain and hardships arising from what many perceive as the destructive politics of Tangkhul militant groups.

Soft Tactics Policy & Communalism:

For decades, Leilon Kuki village and the surrounding Liangmei-inhabited areas coexisted peacefully under a shared spirit of mutual understanding and communal harmony. However, following the outbreak of conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in May 2023, Tangkhul militant groups allegedly attempted to exploit the prevailing instability in order to advance their political agenda through the Liangmei community residing in the region.

As these alleged tactics gradually took effect, the Liangmei community in the Foothills and Makhan areas increasingly came under the influence of Tangkhul militant propaganda, according to local accounts. Consequently, the longstanding peaceful relationship between the Liangmei and Kuki communities began to deteriorate. Many viewed this development as the first significant step toward creating division and hostility in an area once known for peaceful coexistence.

Relations between the Liangmei and Kuki communities, which had remained cordial for generations, reportedly became strained and hostile. Land disputes intensified, roads connecting Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts experienced repeated disruptions, and resentment against the Kuki community steadily increased. Gradually, an area once defined by communal harmony descended into mistrust and division.

The emergence of the FNCC further aggravated tensions in the region. Critics allege that Tangkhul militant elements not only influenced sections of the Liangmei community but also collaborated with certain communal Meitei associates in establishing what they describe as an unauthorized civil society organisation, the FNCC, allegedly to advance anti-Kuki agendas.

Similarly, the ZUF(K), which critics describe as another proxy formation linked to Tangkhul militant networks and certain Meitei associates, has also come under scrutiny. Although the group claims to function independently under the shadow of the NSCN-IM, many allege that its cadres and operational structure remain directly connected to the NSCN-IM itself. According to these allegations, repeated attempts have been made to draw the peace-loving Zeliangrong community into conflict with the Kuki community in pursuit of broader political objectives. Critics further argue that such intentions become evident whenever acts of violence and hostility are directed against Kuki civilians and villages.

Spreading the Agenda of Tangkhul Militants:

The actions allegedly carried out by the ZUF(K) against the Kuki community in Leilon Kuki Village and surrounding areas not only deepened divisions between the two communities but also contributed to growing instability across the wider region.

Following incidents involving the burning of Kuki villages in the Leilon area of Kangpokpi District, similar tensions and violence gradually spread to Ukhrul and Kamjong districts. According to reports from the affected areas, the expansion of these militant-driven agendas displaced hundreds of residents, destroyed dozens of homes, and caused property losses worth lakhs of rupees.

Villages such as Litan and Sareikhong in Ukhrul District, along with the recently burned Molnoi Village in the Chassad area of Kamjong District, are frequently cited as recent examples. Beyond threats and intimidation, these incidents have also resulted in the loss of human lives.

According to allegations from the Kuki side, armed Tangkhul militant groups repeatedly targeted unarmed Kuki villages in parts of Ukhrul over a period of nearly two months in an effort to advance the political objective of creating a “Greater Nagaland.” However, following an incident in which four cadres belonging to another Naga faction, NSCN(EF), were mistakenly killed, militant groups allegedly intensified their campaign against the Kuki community in an effort to regain support and trust among sections of the wider Naga population through propaganda and misinformation.

As communal sentiments and hostility against the Kuki community intensified, violence against innocent Kukis increasingly became normalized within the prevailing atmosphere of conflict. Local accounts cite incidents such as the killing of two Kuki daily wage labourers from the Litan area while they were at work, repeated attempts to disrupt civilian movement, and attacks that endangered women and children. Many believe such incidents would not have occurred without the influence of militant-driven communal agendas.

The spread of hostility was not confined to Kangpokpi and Ukhrul districts alone. It extended into Kamjong District, where the minority Kuki population continues to face threats and insecurity. Fear and intimidation were allegedly employed to force villagers to abandon their homes and communities.

Among the latest incidents cited are the burning of Molnoi Village and threats directed at neighbouring Kuki villages, further intensifying fear and uncertainty in the region.

The Kuki Patience:

Despite the prevailing tensions, Kuki civil society organisations and leaders have consistently maintained restraint in the interest of peace, coexistence, and communal harmony.

From Leilon to Litan and Molnoi, Kuki CSOs repeatedly sought to prevent situations from escalating further in order to avoid the spread of wider communal hatred between communities. However, many of their appeals for restraint were allegedly perceived as weakness and taken for granted. According to community leaders, such restraint was instead a conscious effort to preserve peace and harmony — values that responsible leadership in the state should uphold.

Against this backdrop, recent developments involving the apex Naga body, the UNC, and what many perceived as its confrontational stance toward the Kuki-Zo community have raised serious concerns. Many within the Kuki community believe such positions are influenced by the agenda of Tangkhul militant groups. At the same time, it is equally acknowledged that many peace-loving members of the Zeliangrong community, including sections associated with the ZUF, have continued to advocate for peaceful coexistence rather than communal hostility or militant-driven narratives.

Observers believe the broader objective behind these developments is to influence wider Naga society and draw the peace-loving Zeliangrong community into a politically motivated conflict driven by militant interests. Although such efforts may have achieved limited success, many maintain that attempts to unite communities through violence and the bloodshed of innocent Kuki-Zo civilians can never attain lasting legitimacy or acceptance.

Throughout these difficult circumstances, the response of Kuki civil society organisations largely remained measured and restrained until the recent killing of three church workers in broad daylight — an incident that deeply shocked the community and further heightened tensions.

At the same time, the taking of civilian hostages, including women and children, has been widely condemned and cannot be justified under any circumstance. In this context, many believe it is imperative for all sides to prioritise peace by ensuring the release of hostages and refraining from threats, intimidation, and retaliatory actions in the name of justice and communal harmony.

(Views expressed are personal and does not necessarily reflect the views of THJ)