A 48-hour shutdown is underway in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, called by the Kuki-Zomi group Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU). The shutdown was called in protest against the alleged abduction of two Kuki men, demanding their safe and unconditional release. Rising tension, abductions, and violent attacks have triggered several such bandhs across the state in recent weeks.
How Situation Deteriorated in October?
October 18–22: The working committee of Kuki Civil Society Organisations called a bandh protesting a series of attacks on villages near the India-Myanmar border in Kamjong district.
October 19: Three Meitei men were shot dead in separate incidents, prompting the Native Peoples Committee Manipur (NPCM) to enforce a 48-hour shutdown in the Imphal Valley.
October 20: A civilian was killed in P. Molding village in Kangpokpi.
Mid-October: For the first time since the Meitei-Kuki conflict erupted in 2023, clashes broke out between Meitei Hindus and Meitei Pangals (Muslims), leaving one dead and several houses torched (according to an HT report).
Since September: Naga-Kuki clashes have continued. Dozens of homes were burnt down in Makui Chameriupui, Thanamba, and Thebram in Kangpokpi, while several Naga-majority villages also witnessed arson. On September 15, two Kuki women were shot dead in Tamenglong.
July: Following the killing of six civilians, a month-long Naga blockade severely disrupted essential supplies and escalated regional tensions. The NIA is currently investigating the abduction and murder of six Naga men in May-June.
Political Crisis in Government
At least eight Naga tribal MLAs wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding the immediate repeal of the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki-Zo armed groups. They held Thangboi Kipgen, husband of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, responsible for the violence.
Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho has now joined these voices. On October 28, he alleged that Thangboi was behind the killings of Naga community members this year, stating there was no doubt about the role of the Kuki National Front (KNF), which Thangboi reportedly leads.
Nemcha Kipgen has previously denied all allegations regarding her husband’s nexus with militants and appealed to all communities for peace.
Dikho’s party, the Naga People's Front (NPF), holds 5 seats in the assembly, while the ruling BJP holds 37. The NPF is an integral part of both the state coalition government and the NDA.
What is the SoO Agreement?
The KNF is among the armed outfits covered under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact signed between the Centre, the state government, and Kuki insurgent groups. The agreement was extended on September 4, 2025. Key terms mandate restricting cadres to designated camps, keeping arms under double-lock systems, and issuing Aadhaar cards to members to find a political solution within the Indian Constitution. Despite these terms, reports of armed groups engaging in shootouts, hostage-taking, arson, and highway blockades have persisted through 2026.
