The Foothills Naga areas are set to witness further disruption as the Foothills Naga Co-ordination Committee (FNCC) has called an indefinite bandh started from midnight of April 23, even as the three-day shutdown imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) entered its final day.
In a statement issued on April 22, the FNCC said the decision was taken during an executive meeting, alleging that the Manipur government has failed to implement the Memorandum of Agreement signed on February 20 despite repeated appeals. The committee stated that continued inaction has compelled it to resume democratic agitation. The bandh will restrict movement and economic activities across Foothills Naga areas and will remain in force until further notice. The FNCC said the protest aims to pressure the government to fulfil its commitments and address long-pending grievances, while urging citizens and organisations to maintain peace and discipline.
The impact of the ongoing UNC bandh was also visible in parts of Imphal, where local groups blocked roads in support of the shutdown, indicating widening mobilisation across Naga-inhabited regions.
Meanwhile, tension continues to grip Sinakethei village after a 30-year-old man sustained a gunshot injury, raising serious concerns over civilian safety in the conflict-hit Tangkhul Naga area. According to the village authority, the incident took place around 4 pm on April 22 when the man was allegedly shot by Kuki armed militants from a bunker on Lungter Hill overlooking the village. The bullet struck his heel while he was moving within the village, highlighting the risks faced by civilians even during routine activities.
Village authorities said the victim was not involved in any confrontation and described the situation as increasingly dangerous for residents. The area has remained tense since February 8 following clashes between Kuki and Tangkhul groups in the Litan region, with intermittent firing reported since then. The situation escalated further on April 18 when two civilians were killed in T. Kasom village in an alleged ambush.
Residents of Sinakethei claimed the village has been under sustained armed pressure for over two months, with reports of militant bunkers, trenches and camps being set up across strategic locations. They alleged that parts of village land have effectively come under such control. Despite the presence of Army and security forces and regular patrols, firing incidents continue, creating fear and instability.
Villagers expressed concern over what they described as inadequate intervention, alleging that militant fortifications have been constructed in full view of security forces. They also disputed claims that militants were beyond firing range, citing recent bullet impacts and injuries as evidence. Calling the situation both a security and humanitarian concern, the village authority urged immediate and impartial action to ensure civilian safety, prevent further escalation and restore normalcy.
