Keep us out of your war, Manipur Naga body warns two warring communities

The United Naga Council (UNC) has asked the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities to keep the Nagas out of their war in Manipur. The apex organisation of Nagas in Manipur issued a list of atrocities committed on the Nagas both in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and the hills inhabited primarily by the Kuki-Zo people. Meiteis, Nagas, and Kuki-Zos are the principal communities of Manipur. The Nagas decided on a “position of neutrality” since the ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomis broke out on March 3, 2023

GUWAHATI An apex organisation of Nagas in Manipur has asked the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities to keep the Nagas out of their war.

The Nagas are increasingly becoming victims of an ethnic battle they are not involved in, the United Naga Council (UNC) said while issuing a list of atrocities committed on the Nagas both in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and the hills inhabited primarily by the Kuki-Zo people.

Meiteis, Nagas, and Kuki-Zos are the principal communities of Manipur. The Nagas decided on a “position of neutrality” since the ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomis broke out on March 3, 2023.

The first “collateral damage” was on May 24 when four Naga women from Ukhrul were attacked and molested by a mob in Imphal. A Liangmai Naga house was burnt down at Leimakhong by the Kukis on June 18 while a Maring Naga woman was shot dead in Imphal on July 16, the UNC said in a statement on February 2.

“A Liangmai farmer was beaten by the Kuki Revolutionary Army on Imphal-Tamei Road on September 5 for refusing to pay illegal tax and a Kuki National Front member fired at a Naga leader in Kangpokpi on September 27. Three Tangkhul (Naga) men were beaten up by armed Meiteis in Imphal on December 3,” the UNC said.

On December 11, two Rongmei Naga girls were thrashed in Bishnupur Bazaar (Imphal Valley) and a Naga driver from Tamenglong received a similar treatment in Imphal. A week later, four Naga girls working at a beauty parlour in Imphal were abducted, the UNC said.

Within the space of two days in January, a Tangkhul boy and two Zeliangrong men were kidnapped from Imphal’s Mantripukhri and Bishnupur district respectively, the UNC said.