Memorandum to Governor seeks protection for vulnerable villages
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 01 2026: Several dozens of houses in at least eight Naga villages in three districts have been burnt down, displacing over 200 households, said a memorandum submitted to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla today.

The villages, according to the memorandum, have been vacated by the locals fearing future attacks.

The memorandum was submitted by the Former & Senior Leaders' Forum of Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (FSLFZCOs) .

Located in close proximity to Kuki settlements, the villages include Sempat Naga in Noney district, Gaidunluang in Tamenglong district, Thebram, Tunglong (Tokpa), Bengieng (Thanamba), Pipiuram, Tapon Namsan, and Chamripeu, all in Kangpokpi district.

It may be noted that several other villages including Z Choro, Wanglee, Namlee, and Pilong in Kamjong have come under attack with several civilians killed amid the rising tension between the Kuki and Naga communities.

Amid the continuous violent conflict, hundreds of households, mainly belonging to the Zeliangrong community, have been made homeless and are presently taking shelter at their relative's places in different locations, said the memorandum, urging the Government to identify the displaced families as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) .

The Government must identify the displaced families as IDPs and provide them necessary assistance and benefits as are being provided to other displaced persons, it said.

Further, the memorandum identified several vulnerable villages located in close proximity to Kuki villages and urged the Government to deploy adequate security forces for the safety and security of the people.

The memorandum identified Konsaram, K Lungwiram, Chawangkining, Tapon, and around 10 villages in the Kaiphundai area as vulnerable.

The memorandum, further, sought the intervention of the Governor to secure the NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) .

To ensure the safety and security of the people commuting the road, the memorandum said the Government should consider providing adequate security escorts for general public vehicles plying the highway from Monday to Saturday.

Vehicles going from Imphal to Noney may be made to gather at 7 am at Keithelmanbi and those going from Noney to Imphal may be made to gather at 3 pm at Tupul Bazar for providing the security escorts, it said.

Or, alternatively, the Government may deploy dedicated security forces along the stretch for 11 hours a day (7 am to 5 pm) from Monday to Saturday, it added.

Stating the reason for demanding such security measures, it reminded the Government that during the Kuki-Naga conflict (1992-1996), a passenger bus bound for Noney from Imphal was intercepted by Kuki insurgents between Kotlen Kuki village and Senam Kuki village and pushed down a deep gorge killing about 40 (forty) innocent persons on October 19, 1994 .

The memorandum also underscored that an inter district boundary re-organisation may be the only option for bringing long lasting peace and tranquillity.

The root cause of the conflict repeatedly erupting between the Naga and the Kuki communities is land.

There may be conflict as long as the inter district boundary issue is neglected and re-organisation is delayed, it stressed.

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