Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Negotiations between the United Naga Council (UNC) and the government have stalled. No new date or location exists for the meetings. Officials initially invited the UNC to Imphal on August 3. The group rejected that date. It conflicted with the anniversary of the 2015 Framework Agreement between the Indian government and the NSCN-IM.
UNC president NG Lorho confirmed the group is still waiting for word from the government. The UNC requested a move to Senapati district headquarters. They cited security concerns and travel difficulties in Imphal. The bodies of six Naga men sit in a morgue. They have been at the Jawaharlal Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) since June 10.
The UNC issued a firm ultimatum. They refuse to collect the remains until their charter of demands is met. The group blames Leilon Vaiphei villagers and the Kuki National Front (KNF-P) for the abduction of civilians, including two pastors, on May 13, 2026. They also link these groups to the murder of Wilson Thanga Chiru at Joujangtek on that same day.
The council wants the Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki militants ended immediately. They demand the arrest of Leilon Vaiphei chief Lalboi Vaiphei and all KNF-P members involved in the killings. Additionally, they want the KNF-P labeled a terrorist organization. The UNC also demands the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen. She is married to KNF-P president Semtinthang, also known as Thangboi Kipgen. The UNC believes her role compromises state security. The group stated, "Her continuation in office will amount to willful compromise of the integrity of internal security concerns of both the state and the nation at large."
Updated at 10th August 2026 at 5:49pm
State and central government officials broke the deadlock by holding a first round of informal talks with the UNC this past Monday. A delegation including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam Singh, and nine MLAs traveled to the SM Sha Complex in Senapati for the meeting. The session lasted from 11:30 am until 2 pm.
UNC president NG Lorho confirmed the meeting centered on the way forward but held his ground. He stated the council is maintaining its blockade and will not back down until their demands are met, warning that they are prepared to take even more stringent measures if the government fails to act. Home Minister Govindas declined to comment on the outcome of the discussions, and the government has not yet made the specifics of the meeting public.
Updated at 10th August 2026 at 9:51pm
State and central government officials broke the initial deadlock this past Monday. A delegation including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam Singh, and nine MLAs traveled to the SM Sha Complex in Senapati for a meeting that ran from 11:30 am to 2 pm.
Government spokesman and MLA Thokchom Radheshyam described the session as an ice-breaker, noting that the government views it as a fruitful, cordial start to a series of future discussions. He stated that the government would review the demand regarding the Suspension of Operations agreement, though he noted that such policy decisions ultimately rest with the central government in New Delhi.
Despite the government's positive tone, the UNC maintains that the session was strictly informal. President NG Lorho confirmed that the council refused to lift the economic blockade along the national highways. He warned that the group remains ready to implement even more stringent measures if the government fails to satisfy their four-point charter of demands.
Updated at 11th August 2026 at 1:50am
A government delegation including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam Singh, and nine MLAs traveled to the SM Sha Complex in Senapati this past Monday. The meeting ran from 11:30 am to 2 pm and involved nine representatives from the UNC. The group of legislators included T. Robindro, P. Brojen, Th. Radheshyam, Sheikh Noorul Hassan, Khasim Vasum, J. Kumo Sha, Janghemlung Panmei, Awangbow Newmai, and Leishiyo Keishing.
Government spokesperson Thokchom Radheshyam labeled the session an ice-breaker and a fruitful, cordial start to a series of future discussions. He stated the government would review the demand regarding the Suspension of Operations agreement, though he noted that such policy decisions ultimately rest with the central government in New Delhi. When asked about UNC demands concerning the 16-district reorganization and the restoration of four Naga-dominated districts, Radheshyam said the issue requires further deliberation in later rounds of talks.
UNC president NG Lorho confirmed the council viewed the session as strictly informal. He stood firm on the economic blockade, stating that the organization remains prepared to implement even more stringent measures if the government fails to satisfy their four-point charter of demands.
Updated at 11th August 2026 at 9:52pm
Beyond the Senapati talks, the Manipur government secured a breakthrough on a separate front. On Tuesday, the Kuki CSO Working Committee lifted its counter-blockade and total shutdown along National Highway 202. The move followed a meeting between Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, local MLAs, and committee leaders at Shangkai. The government signed a handwritten agreement taking responsibility for the security of the highway and ensuring the free movement of essential goods.
This deal cleared a bottleneck at Litan, where approximately 460 trucks had been stranded for nearly a month. The convoy began moving toward Imphal on August 11, providing some relief to the state's supply lines. While the Kuki-led blockade has ended, the UNC continues its separate economic blockade, standing firm on its demands as both sides wait for the next round of negotiations.
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