Naga fury over Kuki militant camp relocation
Source: The Sangai Express / Waari Singbul Network
Imphal, September 08 2025:
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi's highly anticipated visit to Manipur ap-proaches - his first since the ethnic violence erupted in May 2023 - the State stands on the brink of renewed conflict.
The recent extension of the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki-Zo militant groups has sparked fresh outrage, particularly among the Naga community, who allege that the relocation of designated militant camps encroaches on their ancestral lands.
Intended to address Meitei concerns by moving camps away from valley areas, this decision has instead deepened ethnic tensions in the hill districts, jeopardizing fragile peace efforts.
Critics of the SoO agreement, including Meitei civil society group Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), label it a "deceptive pact" that shields "narco-terrorist" activities, citing alleged involvement of SoO groups in drug trafficking, extortion, and the 2023 Meitei-Kuki clashes.
The extension of SoO agreement signed on September 4, 2025 introduced "re-negotiated ground rules" to restore peace, and reopen National Highway 2 (NH-2).Key changes include reducing camps from 14 to seven, relocating them farther from Meitei-inhabited plains to reduce tensions, and establishing buffer zones.
While the Kuki Zo Council countered the reopening of the NH-2 saying it was never closed, the relocation plan provoked a fierce backlash from the Naga community, dominant in foothill areas like Kangpokpi and Ukhrul.
The Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) released a scathing press statement on September 7, denouncing reports that the "Thingsat" camp - housing Kuki militants under Kangpokpi police station -would shift to Kharam Vaiphei village (Naga ancestral land) and be renamed "Lhangkichoi".
The FNCC called it a "total undermining" of Naga rights, accusing the Government of offering a "safe haven" to militants despite assurances to respect indigenous land ownership.
In July 2025, the FNCC imposed an indefinite bandh in foothill areas, protesting "German-Tiger roads" linking Kuki-dominated Churachandpur to Kangpokpi.
SoO camp encroachments, and poppy farms, though it was lifted after Government talks.
The timing, ahead of Modi's visit, fuels perceptions of Delhi's "appeasement policy" toward Kukis.
The United Naga Council (UNC) has long opposed Kuki expansions, citing deadly 1990s clashes over overlapping "homeland" claims.
Meitei groups, already furious over the SoO renewal, see it as a betrayal of the Manipur Assembly's February 2024 resolution to abrogate the pact, alleging Kuki militant violations during the 2023 violence.
COCOMI reiterated on September 5 that it "legitimizes Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists" and demanded abrogation to tackle drug syndicates.
Even some Kuki frictions, like Thadou Inpi Manipur, expressed disappointment over ignored calls for abrogation.
Modi's contentious visit: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called a rumoured three-hour itinerary a "non-visit" and "insult" to Manipur's suffering populace.
"This is Kuki appeasement at Naga and Meitei expense," a senior Naga leader said, highlighting risks of a three-way ethnic flare-up.
Under President's Rule since February 2025, extended to January 2026, Manipur's administration struggles with fragmented communities divided by buffer zones.
While the SoO extension seeks to stabilize NH-2 and support 58,000 displaced persons, Naga threats of road closures and evictions underscore how one group's gain fuels another's grievance.
As Modi prepares to address Meitei and Kuki gatherings, Delhi must mediate land disputes and enforce rules, or his visit may offer fleeting hope rather than lasting peace in this volatile region.
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