Guwahati: The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has refuted the Centre’s recent statement claiming that it had agreed to reopen National Highway-2 for free movement of commuters and essential goods in Manipur. The clarification comes after confusion arose when the Home Ministry announced on September 4 that the KZC had consented to lift restrictions on the highway.
In its Monday statement, the KZC stressed that no Meitei or Kuki should cross the “buffer zone,” as there is “still no settlement or agreement to the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.” The council added that their request was limited to asking residents of Kangpokpi to cooperate with security forces to ensure safe passage along the highway.
Responding to the ongoing tensions, the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) reminded its community that NH-2 belongs to the central government and urged members to avoid mob mobilisation, rioting, or blockades. Meitei organisations also criticised the Centre’s earlier announcement, saying the claim undermines the constitutional right to free movement and suggested that insurgent groups were dictating access to the highway.
The KZC’s stance aligns with a joint statement by the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF), which clarified that any appeal for free movement was limited to the Kangpokpi stretch and aimed solely at cooperation with security forces.
The dispute underscores the ongoing tension between the valley-dominant Meitei community and Kuki tribes in the hills, which has persisted since May 2023, leaving over 260 people dead and nearly 50,000 internally displaced.
