New Delhi/Imphal: Kuki‑Zo community organisations on Wednesday demanded the re‑imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, saying the state administration has failed to protect them amid escalating clashes with Naga groups. The organisations also renewed a long‑standing call for a separate administrative arrangement — a Union Territory with a legislature — for the Kuki‑Zo people.
Deaths, destruction and displacement, organisers say
At a press conference in New Delhi, the Kuki‑Zo Women’s Forum and the Kuki‑Zo Council said at least 32 members of the community had been killed since March 2026. The figure, the groups noted, includes two pregnant women and 10 other women. They further alleged that about 55 houses in 14 Kuki‑Zo villages were torched during the same period.
The organisations attributed the attacks to elements they said belonged to the Isak‑Muivah faction of the NSCN (IM) and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF‑Kamson), and urged the Centre to restore direct federal rule, arguing that civilian lives and property were at risk under the state administration.
“No Kuki‑Zo civilian had been killed during the period when President’s Rule was in effect,” the Kuki‑Zo Council spokesperson said, urging the re‑imposition of Central rule “in the interest of the safety, security, and dignity of the Kuki‑Zo people.”
Economic hardships and alleged blockades
Speakers at the event detailed what they described as an economic embargo on several Kuki‑Zo inhabited pockets. They said supplies to some villages had been obstructed and that commodities bound for Kangpokpi town were being blocked at points including Namdilong and Senapati, which they attributed to activities by the United Naga Council (UNC).
The Kuki‑Zo Council spokesperson claimed that fuel and cooking gas prices had surged in affected areas, reporting petrol at about ₹250 a litre and an LPG cylinder at roughly ₹5,000 in those localities.
Political settlement sought
Beyond immediate security and relief measures, the organisations reiterated a political demand for a distinct administrative setup for the Kuki‑Zo community. They argued that prolonged ethnic conflict in the State had eroded confidence in existing arrangements and that a Union Territory with a legislature would better protect their rights and interests.
President’s Rule had been imposed in Manipur on 13 February 2025 and was revoked on 4 February 2026, the groups noted, contrasting the period of central administration with the current situation.
Recorded figures and areas highlighted
The organisations named several districts where they said the community was facing hardship, including Kangpokpi, Ukhrul and Kamjong, and the Longpi area of Noney/Tamenglong. They drew attention to specific villages such as Chassad, Aishi, Kotlen and Leilon as places where supplies had been disrupted or populations had been economically constrained.
| Item | Claimed figure / location |
|---|---|
| Deaths since March 2026 | 32 (including 2 pregnant women, 10 other women) |
| Houses burnt | 55 houses in 14 villages |
| Areas cited | Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, Kamjong, Longpi area of Noney/Tamenglong |
| Reported prices in affected pockets | Petrol ~ ₹250/litre; LPG cylinder ~ ₹5,000 |
Context and implications
The demand to re‑impose President’s Rule raises complex constitutional and political questions. Central rule is typically considered when a state government is regarded as unable to maintain law and order or when governance has broken down; re‑imposition requires parliamentary approval and has significant consequences for state autonomy.
Calls for a separate Union Territory with legislature reflect longer‑running anxieties among sections of the Kuki‑Zo community about political representation, safety and access to resources. Any move toward such a rearrangement would involve prolonged negotiation between the Centre, the State government, and multiple ethnic and political stakeholders in Manipur.
- Immediate demand: Re‑imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur.
- Political demand: Creation of a Union Territory with a legislature for the Kuki‑Zo community.
- Security and humanitarian concerns: Allegations of killings, arson and supply blockades in several districts since March 2026.
The groups’ assertions will need verification from independent authorities and the State administration. The situation remains sensitive, with implications for inter‑community relations across multiple districts in Manipur.
Correspondent reporting from New Delhi and Imphal supplied the details for this account.
