CoTU Warns Manipur CM Against Entering Kuki-Zo Areas En Route to Senapati Visit, Holds State Accountable for Any Unrest

In a stark warning ahead of Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s scheduled visit to Senapati district on October 30, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has unequivocally cautioned him against entering Kuki-Zo dominated areas, labeling any such move as “provocative” and potentially “dangerous.”

CoTU’s statement includes direct accusations against Singh, alleging his role in inciting violence against the Kuki-Zo people and warning that his presence could spark fresh unrest.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh is set to visit Senapati district on October 30 to attend Liangmai Changa Ngee, 2024, at Marenmai village, located near the strife-riven Kangpokpi district. A similar attempt by the Chief Minister to pass through Kangpokpi on August 3 was strongly opposed by the Kuki-Zo community and was ultimately canceled.

The powerful warning from CoTU has cast a spotlight on the escalating tensions in Manipur, where ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities has scarred the state.

CoTU described the Chief Minister’s planned route through Kuki-Zo areas as a deliberate act that could "inflame volatile relations," accusing Singh of previously fueling hostilities and calling any attempt to “trespass” into their regions a “threat to their community.”

“His presence here is not welcome,” said Lamminlun Singsit, CoTU General Secretary, asserting that “it represents an escalation of political interference in Kuki-Zo territories.” He emphasized that Singh’s actions have left the Kuki-Zo community “deeply distrustful” of his motives, with lingering accusations of the state’s complicity in violence against the Kuki-Zo people.

With allegations of state-backed discrimination still reverberating in the aftermath of Manipur’s recent ethnic violence, CoTU’s ultimatum reflects a profound distrust of the government’s intentions. The organization has urged Singh to show restraint and avoid what they consider an "incendiary" act, underscoring the fragile peace that remains in Manipur.

CoTU also urged the central government to advise the Manipur Chief Minister to avoid trespassing through Kuki-Zo dominated areas en route to his visit to Senapati. The Committee warned that if the Chief Minister intentionally and forcefully trespasses into Kuki-Zo areas, any untoward incidents arising from it would be the sole responsibility of the state government.