Thousands Join Massive Rally in Kangpokpi Against Alleged 'Balkanisation' of Manipur Hills; Demand Crackdown on NSCN-IM, ZUF

Thousands of members of the Kuki-Zo community on Saturday staged a massive peaceful protest rally at the Gamgiphai Buffer Zone in Manipur's Kangpokpi district under the aegis of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), condemning what they alleged was a systematic attempt to "Balkanise" the hill areas through repeated attacks on Kuki-Zo habitations.

The rally commenced from Taloulong Damdei and proceeded to the Gamgiphai Buffer Zone via the National Highway-2 before returning to the starting point. Protesters carried a giant banner accusing the Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM and Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) of orchestrating attacks on Kuki-Zo villages, while asserting that the community would remain united and resist attempts to divide it.

Holding placards and raising slogans, the demonstrators demanded immediate government intervention against armed groups allegedly operating in the hill districts. Among the slogans echoed during the march were, "Stop Selective Action," "Clamp Down on Transnational Terrorists," "Tangkhul NSCN-IM Down Down," and "Where are the CAPF in Kamjong and Tamenglong?"

The protesters also displayed placards reading "Clamp Down on NSCN-IM & ZUF: Secessionist Terrorists," "Stop Balkanization of the Hill Country," "Equal Justice for Equal Rights," "Blockade on Humanitarian Supplies is a War Crime," "Few Hoodlums are Controlling the State Security," and "Where are the CAPF in Kamjong and Tamenglong?"

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the rally, CoTU spokesperson Ng. Lun Kipgen alleged that the government's policies were favouring one community over another and warned that such an approach would undermine constitutional principles and national unity.

"The government of the day needs to desist from pursuing prescriptive policies of appeasing one community over another if it wants India to remain united and uphold the Constitution," he said.

Referring to the prevailing security situation in the hill districts, Kipgen alleged that the current communal tension was part of a larger design to weaken the present state government led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

He further alleged that armed Tangkhul militant groups were operating with impunity and attempting to destabilise the entire Northeastern region while the authorities remained "mute spectators."

Citing the recent attacks on Kuki-Zo villages at Phaimol in Kamjong district on July 1 and Leikot in Tamenglong district on July 2, the CoTU spokesperson alleged that the incidents were intended to provoke retaliatory violence and trigger a wider Kuki-Naga conflict.

"We want to remind those attempting to engineer a major Kuki-Naga conflict that we will not fall into your trap," he asserted.

Kipgen also urged the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh to remember the lessons of the June 18, 2001 uprising, saying historical events should caution authorities against policies that could further deepen ethnic divisions.

"The essence of the June Uprising should resonate in the Valley," asserted Kipgen, urging the Chief Minister to put a check on all armed militants led by the NSCN-IM.

Calling for immediate intervention by both the State and Central governments, CoTU Spokesperson demanded that the operational freedom allegedly enjoyed by the Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM be reviewed, contending that the group's activities were incompatible with the spirit of its ceasefire agreement with the Government of India.

"While respecting the political aspirations of every community, the Kuki-Zo community will not become a scoreboard or a benchmark for anyone's political agenda," Kipgen said.

The rally concluded peacefully amid tight security, with participants reiterating their demand for equal protection, impartial enforcement of law, deployment of Central Armed Police Forces in vulnerable hill districts, and decisive action against armed groups accused of targeting Kuki-Zo villages.