Imphal: The release of 14 Kuki detainees by a Naga group on Tuesday was widely welcomed, with many praising the Naga community for prioritising humanitarian values despite ongoing tensions between the two communities.
United Naga Council (UNC) president Ng Lorho said the decision was guided by Naga values and humanitarian principles.
However, nearly a month has passed since the alleged abduction of six Naga men from Leilon Vaiphei, a Kuki village in Kangpokpi district, and their whereabouts remain unresolved.
Since the alleged abduction on May 13, Naga civil society organisations have staged a series of protests and demonstrations across Naga-inhabited areas and in Imphal, demanding the immediate release of the six Naga civilians. The abducted men reportedly include a reverend and a pastor.
Alongside the demand for their release, calls for the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen from the Council of Ministers have gained momentum. Naga organisations allege that her husband, Semtinthang Kipgen alias Thangboi, heads the Kuki National Front (P) [KNF(P)], a Kuki militant group they believe is responsible for the abduction.
According to N.G. Akhiu, convenor of the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), the government should take decisive action against those responsible instead of merely issuing condemnations.
“The authorities continue to issue condemnations while Kuki militants continue to act with impunity by killing innocent people, especially Nagas and Meiteis. What is the purpose of having a government if it does not act against these militants? If they cannot control them, why not resign? These militants are freely roaming around in uniform and carrying sophisticated weapons,” he said.
Akhiu made the remarks while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a condolence programme for the late Chunjanglung Panmei at the RIMS mortuary premises on Tuesday. Panmei, a resident of Pongringlong village near Tupul under Kangchup Geljang subdivision in Kangpokpi district, was allegedly killed by Kuki militants on Monday.
He further alleged, “India is a democracy, but in Manipur it appears that democracy is being defined as a government of the Kuki National Front, by Nemcha Kipgen, for the Kuki people.”
Akhiu also demanded strong action against those responsible for the abduction and called for the abrogation of Kuki Suspension of Operations (SoO) camps, arguing that lasting peace in Manipur would be possible only after such measures are taken.
Last month, the Naga People’s Union Imphal (NPUI) organised a large protest in Imphal that drew participation from both Naga and Meitei communities. Protesters demanded clear information regarding the status of the six abducted Naga men.
The union also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, seeking the removal of Nemcha Kipgen from the post of Deputy Chief Minister and alleging the involvement of her husband, Semtinthang Kipgen alias Thangboi, president of the KNF(P), in the abduction case.
Similarly, the Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO) and the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) reiterated their demand to the Centre and the Manipur Government for the removal of Nemcha Kipgen from her positions as Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Tribal Affairs and Hills. The organisations cited alleged misuse of tribal development funds and what they described as communal intentions.
In a letter dated May 23 and addressed to the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, the organisations stated that their demand to strip Nemcha Kipgen of the portfolios of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Tribal Affairs and Hills was “legitimate”.
The organisations further alleged that a rally held at Kangpokpi on May 25 was organised to shield the Deputy Chief Minister from growing allegations of financial misconduct.
In the letter, the Naga organisations accused Nemcha Kipgen of allegedly misappropriating funds meant for the Tribal Affairs and Hills Department. They also alleged that a disproportionate share of these funds had been sanctioned and distributed primarily in Kuki-dominated areas.
Also Read: Triple threat: A 30-year study shows how troubled the Assam tea industry is
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI