Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: A delegation of Naga apex civil organizations left Senapati on Friday for Assam. They head to the BSF FTR HQ Officer Mess in Garbhanga. The group gathers there for tripartite talks on September 26 at 11 am. Participants include the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Indian government, and Manipur’s Home Department.
More than 10 delegates represent the United Naga Council, its working committee, the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur, and the Naga Women's Union. The Liangmai Naga Council, Rongmei Naga Council, Joint Tribe Council, and Naga Peoples' Organisation are also present. They aim to discuss the state's volatile law and order situation and necessary peace-building measures.
The UNC intends to force a hard line against militants. Demands include cancelling the Suspension of Operations pact with Kuki groups. They also want the Kuki National Front-President designated as a terrorist organization. These groups point to the May 13, 2026, abduction of 18 civilians from Leilon Vaiphei. Six of those hostages were later killed. Wilson Thanga Chiru was also killed at Joujangtek that same day. The bodies now push for the arrest and prosecution of KNF-P members and village chiefs involved in these acts.
Political accountability remains on the table. The delegation is seeking the removal of Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen from office. Further friction points include the India-Myanmar border fencing and the cancellation of the Free Movement Regime in Naga areas. Manipur’s Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Home, N. Ashok Kumar, confirmed the meeting logistics in a letter to UNC President Ng Lorho. This session builds on previous discussions held November 29, 2024, in Senapati, where the UNC urged the state to "submit a concrete proposal at the next round of talks."
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 5:48pm
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) recently threw its weight behind the UNC-led economic blockade, accusing the state government of failing to deliver justice for victims of the ongoing violence. COCOMI officials cited the May 3, 2023, conflict and subsequent civilian killings, including the abduction and death of members of the Liangmai community in June, as primary drivers for their support of the agitation.
Following the September 26 meeting in Guwahati, the UNC announced the formal suspension of the blockade. UNC president Ng. Lorho confirmed the movement would cease at 6 pm that evening, citing the agreement reached with central and state officials as the basis for the decision. The organization thanked supporters for their solidarity during the protest.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 9:50pm
The United Naga Council officially suspended its 131-day economic blockade on September 26 at 6 pm. The decision followed a three-hour meeting at the BSF Frontier Headquarters in Garbhanga where central and state officials promised to address the council's demands through formal follow-up sessions.
The blockade, which choked supply chains on NH-2 and NH-37 for over four months, had caused significant spikes in the price of essential commodities across Manipur. The council stated that the temporary lift is contingent on the government making good on the assurances provided during the Guwahati negotiations.
Updated at 27th September 2026 at 9:49am
Following the Guwahati sit-down, the Manipur government committed to a shake-up of designated Suspension of Operations camps. State authorities confirmed plans to shutter two camps and shuffle the locations of five others. Commissioner of Home N. Ashok Kumar issued a statement emphasizing that all cadres must stay within approved sites, vowing to crack down on unauthorized camps with tighter monitoring.
The state also pledged Rs 10 lakh in ex-gratia to the families of each of the six civilians killed. The government promised additional support, including state jobs for family members and education funding for children. The ongoing National Investigation Agency probe into the killings will continue with full state cooperation.
However, the talks failed to bridge the widest gaps. Officials ignored the council's demands to label the Kuki National Front-President a terrorist organization and remove Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen from office.
Violence flared again on the day of the meeting. Armed men, allegedly linked to Kuki groups, killed two civilians, Rocky Mao and Kumar Poumai, in the Kalenjang area near Taphou Naga village. Two others were left in critical condition. The All Naga Students' Association condemned the attack, which occurred while the Chief Minister was nearby for a college jubilee event. This follows a separate September 24 ambush in Kamjong that claimed four lives, an attack police attribute to militants crossing over from the Myanmar border.
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