Two prominent Kuki civil society organisations have strongly opposed the reported visit of Manipur Chief Minister Khemchand Singh to Churachandpur on July 4, warning that the current security situation in the Kuki-Zo-majority region is not conducive for such a visit.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Kuki Civil Society Organisations (KCSOs), Churachandpur, claimed that it had received information that the Chief Minister was scheduled to visit Lamka (Churachandpur) on Saturday. The organisation said it would not allow any Meitei individual, official or group, including the Chief Minister, to enter the district until a political solution is reached to the ongoing Kuki-Zo–Meitei conflict.
The KCSOs announced a boycott of the Chief Minister’s proposed visit and stated that any untoward incident arising from the visit would be the responsibility of the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) also issued a separate press release urging the Chief Minister to defer his proposed visit. The organisation acknowledged that the Chief Minister had previously visited several hill districts without major incidents, but maintained that the situation in Kuki-Zo-dominated districts such as Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal remains fundamentally different due to the continuing ethnic tensions.
According to KIM, the prevailing situation in these districts remains highly sensitive, and any visit at this stage could trigger strong public reactions and adversely affect the fragile law and order situation.
The organisation urged the Chief Minister to postpone the visit until conditions become conducive for meaningful and peaceful public engagement. It also reiterated that any move perceived as ignoring the aspirations of the Kuki-Zo community, particularly its long-standing demand for a separate administrative arrangement, could further deepen mistrust and complicate ongoing efforts to restore peace in the state.
There was no immediate response from the Manipur government regarding the statements issued by the two organisations.
