The United Naga Council has urged Amit Shah to intervene in Manipur, demanding SoO abrogation, Assam Rifles withdrawal and implementation of the Guwahati talks agreements.
Imphal, Oct. 31: The United Naga Council (UNC) has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene in the ongoing Manipur conflict, demanding the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, an end to what it described as a proxy war against the indigenous people, and the removal of Assam Rifles from border areas and conflict zones.
In a memorandum submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati district on October 31, 2026, the UNC also called for the time-bound implementation of agreements reached during the September 26 tripartite talks in Guwahati involving the governments of India and Manipur and the Naga organisation.
The memorandum was issued as Naga people held sit-in protests and public rallies at the headquarters of four Naga districts to express their concerns over the prolonged violence in Manipur, which began on May 3, 2023.
UNC Lists Four Demands in Memorandum to Centre
The memorandum, signed by UNC president Ng. Lorho and general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang, set out four demands that the organisation said required urgent attention to restore peace and protect indigenous communities in Manipur.
1. Immediate abrogation of the SoO agreement
The UNC demanded the immediate termination of the Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki militant groups, alleging that armed groups covered by the arrangement had been involved in killings, extortion, land grabbing, territorial expansion and poppy cultivation in Naga ancestral areas.
The council argued that the agreement, originally intended to facilitate peace, had lost its legitimacy and was being used to sustain violence. These allegations were presented as the UNC's position in the memorandum.
2. End to alleged proxy war
The council called on the Centre to address what it described as a proxy war against Manipur's indigenous communities. It alleged that armed groups of foreign origin and militant organisations covered by the SoO arrangement were being used to target local populations, alter the state's demography and occupy ancestral lands.
The UNC identified alleged large-scale illegal immigration, narco-terrorism and demands for a separate administration carved out of Naga ancestral territories as issues requiring government intervention.
It urged the Government of India to address these concerns as part of efforts to resolve the conflict.
3. Implementation of September 26 Guwahati agreements
The UNC sought time-bound implementation of the understandings reached during the September 26 tripartite talks in Guwahati between the Government of India, the Manipur government and the council.
The memorandum referred specifically to the demand for the removal of Nemcha Kipgen from the post of Deputy Chief Minister, stating that the assurances concerning the council's charter of demands had been welcomed by the Naga people.
The official record of the September 26 meeting states that the parties agreed to continue appropriate measures on the issues discussed, maintain regular dialogue and suspend blockades along national highways and other locations. It also records that the demands concerning the declaration of the Kuki National Front-President (KNF-P) as a terrorist organisation and the removal of Nemcha Kipgen were not discussed because they were considered political in nature.
The UNC's latest memorandum calls for the agreed points to be implemented in letter and spirit.
4. Withdrawal of Assam Rifles from border and conflict areas
The council also demanded the withdrawal of Assam Rifles from border areas and conflict zones, alleging that the force had lost the confidence of the Naga public.
The memorandum accused personnel of harassing, intimidating and disarming Naga village volunteers who, according to the UNC, were protecting their ancestral villages. It also referred to allegations concerning the bombing of Awontang village in Kamjong district and alleged support for Kuki groups.
The UNC called on the Centre to deploy another neutral security force in place of Assam Rifles in the affected areas.
These claims reflect the council's allegations and were not independently established in the memorandum.
Appeal for Lasting Peace
Concluding its submission, the UNC described the situation in Manipur as a prolonged humanitarian and security crisis, referring to displacement, loss of lives, destruction of villages and strained relations between communities.
The council said the Naga people remained committed to peace, coexistence and mutual respect with neighbouring communities, while calling for the protection of their identity and ancestral land.
It appealed to Amit Shah to intervene personally and act on the four demands with urgency, arguing that lasting peace could not be achieved by favouring one community at the expense of another.
The memorandum was submitted on October 31, the same day the UNC organised sit-in protests and solidarity rallies at Naga district headquarters in support of its demands and the broader mobilisation against the SoO agreement and the role of Assam Rifles in Manipur.
