Kuki organisations have opposed reports of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's proposed visit to Churachandpur, while the UKNA has called for a shutdown. No official confirmation of the visit has been issued.
Imphal, July 3: Several Kuki civil society organisations on Friday opposed what they described as the proposed visit of Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to Churachandpur district on July 4, while the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) announced a district-wide shutdown and directed that schools and commercial establishments remain closed.
However, there has been no official announcement or confirmation from the Manipur Government or the Chief Minister's Office regarding any scheduled visit by the Chief Minister to Churachandpur district. The statements issued by Kuki organisations were based on what they described as reliable information or reports regarding the proposed visit.
In a joint press statement dated July 3, six Kuki civil society organisations in Churachandpur said they had received reliable information that the Chief Minister would visit Lamka (Churachandpur) on Saturday.
The statement was jointly signed by:
The organisations stated that they would not allow any Meitei individual, official or group, including the Chief Minister, to enter the district until what they described as the ongoing Kuki-Zo-Meitei conflict is politically resolved.
The statement further announced a boycott of the proposed visit and asserted that any untoward incident arising from the visit would be the responsibility of the Chief Minister.
In a separate press release, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) also referred to reports of the Chief Minister's possible visit to Churachandpur on July 4.
The organisation acknowledged that the Chief Minister had visited several hill districts after assuming office without major incidents but argued that the prevailing situation in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts remained fundamentally different because of continuing tensions.
KIM said the ground situation remained highly sensitive and warned that such a visit could provoke strong public reactions and potentially disturb the fragile law-and-order situation.
The organisation urged the Chief Minister to defer any proposed visit until conditions become conducive for what it described as safe and constructive public engagement.
It further stated that any action perceived as ignoring the aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people, particularly regarding their demand for a separate administration, could deepen mistrust and hinder ongoing peace efforts.
Meanwhile, the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) issued what it described as an emergency shutdown notice in connection with the reported visit.
According to the notice, all schools, shops and business establishments in Churachandpur district are to remain closed during the shutdown.
The organisation instructed village chiefs to mobilise residents to line up along the main roads and called on participants to carry black flags as a mark of protest.
The notice further stated that, except for emergency and medical services, movement of vehicles would not be permitted during the shutdown. It also warned that village chiefs would be held responsible if residents failed to participate in the protest programme.
The contents of the UKNA notice could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate response from the organisation or security agencies regarding its implementation.
Despite the multiple statements issued by Kuki organisations, the Manipur Government has not officially announced any programme for the Chief Minister's visit to Churachandpur. Neither the Chief Minister's Office nor the state administration had issued an itinerary or advisory confirming such a visit at the time of filing this report.
The absence of an official confirmation has raised questions over whether the visit was under consideration or whether the organisations were responding to unverified information circulating locally.
Churachandpur remains one of the most sensitive districts affected by the ethnic conflict that began in May 2023.
Given the series of statements issued by Kuki organisations, security agencies are expected to closely monitor the situation in the district, particularly if any movement of senior government officials takes place over the weekend.
No official statement had been issued by the Manipur Government in response to the boycott announcements or the shutdown call at the time of publication.
