Kuki, Naga groups appeal for peace after Kangpokpi arson

Imphal: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and the United Naga Council (UNC), apex bodies of the two communities, have jointly appealed for peace and restraint in the wake of tensions over the burning of houses at K Songlung (Part-II) in Kangpokpi district.On Monday, armed miscreants belonging to a faction of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), a Naga militant group, set ablaze three houses and a vehicle belonging to the Kuki-Zo community.The ZUF (Kamson group) claimed responsibility, stating the action was part of its campaign against “illegal poppy cultivation, narcotics trafficking, and unlawful encroachment by illegal immigrants” within the ancestral, customary, and historical territory of the Zeliangrong Inpui Naga people.Following the incident, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) warned of a 24-hour shutdown on Asian Highway-2 (NH-2) and NH-37 if arrests were not made within 24 hours. Other Kuki-Zo bodies, including the Indigenous Tribal Leader’s Forum (ITLF) and Sadar Hills Chief Association (SAHILCA), condemned the attack.The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) rejected ZUF’s claims, claiming that K Songlung (Part-II) is a permanent settlement with no poppy cultivation. “Burning an entire village reflects taking the law into one’s own hands and a deliberate attempt to destroy a community, its homes, and its dignity. ZUF (Kamson) must immediately cease using allegations of poppy cultivation and illegal immigration as a pretext to attack Kuki-Zo villages and encroach upon Kuki-Zo land,” a KZC statement said.In contrast, the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) said the site was not a recognised village but temporary structures used for poppy cultivation. It said the site in question is not a village called “K Songlung” nor was any village set ablaze.It cited the Manipur (Hill Areas Village Authority) Act, 1956, which requires at least 20 households for legal recognition, and argued the land historically belonged to the Inpui community.Amid conflicting claims, KIM and UNC issued a joint statement condemning the burning of households and urging all communities to maintain peace, avoid spreading rumours, and ensure relief and justice for the victims.