Police vow adequate security for Shirui attendees
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 15 2025: Appealing to the public not to trust the press communique issued by an unknown organisation, Manipur police have assured of adequate security arrangement to facilitate free movement of public for the upcoming state-level Shirui Lily festival.

According to Manipur police control room, a press communique issued by a fictitious organisation Kuki Zo Village Volunteer-Eastern Zone (KZVV-EZ), is being circulated on social media and local vernaculars on May 11, threatening members of Meetei community against entering or crossing Kuki-inhabited areas for the Shirui festival.

The district police have investigated the organisation but found no evidence of its existence.

Police then advised the public not to believe such unfounded and baseless press note issued by unknown organisation, assuring that the district police will make adequate security arrangement to ensure free movement of public during the festival.

Public are requested to cooperate with police department in security arrangement relating to the upcoming festival, urged the Control Room.

The Shirui Festival is held in honour of the state flower Shirui Lily, which is found in the hills of Tangkhul Naga-dominated Ukhrul district.

The festival is scheduled from May 20 to May 24.Meanwhile, NSCN, in a statement, has called the directives of the Kuki group as "outrageous" and "provocative".

"NSCN shall not tolerate if KZVV EZ makes any wild attempt to disturb the streaming tourists targeting any particular community travelling to Ukhrul/Shirui village.

Let this message be loud and clear that the territorial jurisdiction of the so-called Kukiland doesn't cover even an inch of Naga territory in Ukhrul," it said.

On the other hand, Kuki group 'Village Volunteers Eastern Zone' has stated that it has "no affiliation" and "no connection" with the Kuki Zo Village Volunteers Eastern Zone.

More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic conflict between Meeteis and Kuki groups since May 2023 .

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