Kuki-Zo Women Stand Guard at Gamgiphai to Bar CM Biren Singh's Entry into Kangpokpi

The Kuki-Zo women across the Sadar Hills in Kangpokpi District gathered at Gamgiphai this morning to block the anticipated passage of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh through their territory. The protest was organized to prevent Singh’s travel en route to the Liangmai Changa Ngee 2024 festival in neighboring Senapati District, a visit he ultimately skipped.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) had earlier issued a stern warning to the Chief Minister ahead of his planned visit, labeling any attempt to enter Kuki-Zo areas as “provocative” and potentially “dangerous.” CoTU has previously accused Singh of fueling violence against the Kuki-Zo community and warned that his presence could ignite renewed unrest in an already fragile region.

The protest, which began around 9:00 a.m., saw a large congregation of women monitoring the highway, prepared to prevent any passage of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, and other politicians and officials from the Meitei community. The demonstration remained peaceful, with no interruptions to highway traffic or business operations. Shops and businesses in the area continued their operations as usual, underscoring the controlled nature of the protest.

This is the second incident in recent months in which Chief Minister Singh's attempts to traverse Kangpokpi have been thwarted by local resistance from the Kuki-Zo community. A similar effort on August 3 was met with a strong opposition, forcing a cancellation. The incident reflects the deepening divisions and rising tensions in Manipur, with escalating concerns about government-community relations.

For many in the Kuki-Zo community, the protest served as both a message and a defense against perceived aggression. “We will not allow provocations in our land,” one protestor asserted. As regional divisions continue to intensify, the impasse between state leadership and tribal communities signals a significant challenge for Manipur’s path to stability and reconciliation.

In a clear caution to Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) General Secretary Lamminlun Singsit has urged him to stop attempting to enter Kuki-Zo dominated areas, emphasizing that continued attempts to pass through Kuki-Zo territories would be seen as "trespassing" and could lead to an escalation in tensions, further deepening the community rift in the state.

Lamminlun Singsit highlighted the community's resolve, stating that under CoTU’s guidance, the Kuki-Zo people would pursue all forms of protest against what they perceive as unauthorized entry into their areas by Meitei officials. This stand, he explained, is rooted in the Kuki-Zo community’s longstanding demand for a separate administrative structure—a demand that remains unmet amidst a backdrop of ongoing unrest in Manipur. "Unless our call for separate administration is realized, we will oppose any attempts by the Meitei community to enter our regions," Singsit asserted.