Zeliangrong civil organisations seek security escorts on NH-37, IDP benefits for displaced families, village security and inter-district boundary reorganisation.
Imphal, Oct. 1: The Former & Senior Leaders' Forum Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (FSLFZCOS) has submitted a memorandum to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla seeking enhanced security for public vehicles travelling along NH-37 and recognition of displaced Zeliangrong Naga families as internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The memorandum, submitted at Lok Bhavan, Imphal, on Thursday, October 1, also sought dedicated security coverage for vulnerable Zeliangrong Naga villages and reorganisation of inter-district boundaries as a measure the organisation described as necessary for long-term peace and stability.
The organisation said the continuing conflict in Manipur since May 3, 2023, has created an unpredictable security situation, including in areas along the NH-37 corridor.
The FSLFZCOS said members of the general public travelling between Imphal and Noney on NH-37 continue to face security concerns. It urged the government to provide security escorts for public vehicles travelling between Imphal and Noney from Monday to Saturday.
Under its proposed arrangement, vehicles travelling from Imphal to Noney would gather at Keithelmanbi at 7 am, while vehicles travelling from Noney to Imphal would gather at Tupul Bazar at 3 pm for escorted movement.
Alternatively, the organisation demanded dedicated security forces or battalions to provide security coverage along the NH-37 stretch between Keithelmanbi and Tupul Bazar from 7 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday.
In its memorandum, the organisation referred to incidents during the 1992-1996 Kuki-Naga conflict to underline its concerns over security on the highway.
It cited the October 19, 1994, incident in which a passenger bus travelling from Imphal towards Noney was intercepted between Kotlen Kuki village and Senam Kuki village and pushed into a deep gorge, resulting in the deaths of around 40 people, according to the memorandum.
The organisation also referred to the killing of four people in separate incidents near Sejang Kuki village and at Kotlen in 1993, attributing the incidents to Kuki National Front (KNF) militants.
The FSLFZCOS said such incidents demonstrated the need for preventive security measures along the highway.
The organisation also raised concerns over Zeliangrong Naga families whose villages were allegedly burnt down and who are currently staying with relatives in different locations.
It urged the government to identify such families and recognise them as IDPs so that they can receive assistance and benefits extended to other displaced persons.
The memorandum listed eight villages from Noney, Tamenglong and Kangpokpi districts whose residents, it said, had been displaced.
These include Sempat Naga in Noney district, with 10 households; Gaidunluang in Tamenglong district, with 11 households; Thebram in Kangpokpi district, with 60 households; Tunglong (Tokpa), with 16 households and 60 people; Bengjeng (Thanamba), with 30 households; Pipiuram, with 16 households; Tapon Namsan, with 40 households; and Chamripeu, with 21 households.
The organisation further said women and children from some villages were staying in different locations because of security concerns and the proximity of their villages to Kuki-majority areas.
The FSLFZCOS also called for full security coverage for Zeliangrong Naga villages located in what it described as vulnerable and sensitive areas, particularly in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts.
The memorandum identified Konsaram in Kangpokpi, where it said 73 households involving around 400 people had been displaced, and K. Lungwiram, where 42 households involving around 200 people were reportedly displaced.
Other locations named were Chawangkining, with 30 households; Tapon, with 35 households; and the Kaiphundai areas of Tamenglong district, covering around 10 villages.
The organisation urged the authorities to treat security arrangements for these locations as an immediate priority.
The memorandum also renewed the organisation's demand for reorganisation of inter-district boundaries.
The FSLFZCOS described the issue as a long-pending demand and argued that changes to inter-district boundaries were necessary for lasting peace and stability.
The organisation linked recurring conflict between Naga and Kuki communities to disputes over land and said the issue would continue to create tensions unless the boundary question was addressed.
The memorandum concluded by seeking the Governor's immediate intervention on the security, displacement and administrative issues raised by the organisation.
