The Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association (SAHILCA) has announced a complete ban on all government activities carried out by the Manipur state administration, including the Forest Department, within Sadar Hills in Kangpokpi district. The decision comes amid continuing ethnic unrest and strained relations between the tribal communities and the state government.
The ban, effective immediately, prohibits any form of state-led programmes and development initiatives in areas inhabited by the Kuki-Zo community, including popular flagship outreach programmes like “Go to Hills” and “Go to Villages”, which were meant to bridge governance gaps in remote tribal areas.
In a strongly worded statement, SAHILCA said, “No programme or project of the Government of Manipur will be allowed in our villages until a peaceful and amicable resolution to the ongoing conflict is achieved.” The association emphasized that the state’s continued administrative actions in conflict-hit areas, without addressing the underlying grievances of the tribal people, are not only “insensitive” but could also provoke further unrest.
Expressing deep concern over the state’s silence in the face of violence, displacement, and political alienation, the tribal chiefs have urged Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) to suspend all project implementation in the region. They warned that going forward with state projects at this juncture may be viewed by the local population as a disregard for their trauma and resistance.
