Guwahati: The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) on Monday urged the Centre to intervene in the worsening humanitarian situation in Manipur, as shortages of essential commodities deepen in Kuki-Zo-inhabited areas amid an ongoing economic blockade.
A KZC delegation met Director of the Intelligence Bureau Mahesh Dixit and senior officials of the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi, seeking immediate measures to restore the supply of food, fuel and medicines to affected districts. The delegation also pressed for an early political settlement to address the community’s long-standing demands.
Speaking after the meeting, KZC chairperson Henlianthang Thanglet said the delegation highlighted the hardships faced by Kuki-Zo residents due to continued violence and restrictions on the movement of essential goods.
According to him, the IB Director assured the delegation that the concerns, including the disruption of supply lines, would be examined. The KZC also reiterated its demand for a political solution, including a separate administrative arrangement for the Kuki-Zo community.
KZC spokesperson Ginza Vualzong said the restoration of the elected government in Manipur on February 4, following nearly a year of President’s Rule, has not improved conditions for the Kuki-Zo community. He claimed that at least 15 Kuki-Zo people have been killed and 14 villages have been burnt during the recent phase of unrest.
He also alleged that Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh has failed to address the concerns of the community, adding that the KZC continues to seek a Union Territory with a legislature as a long-term political solution.
Responding to questions on Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, Vualzong said there has been no official engagement between her and the KZC, adding that the prevailing political situation has limited her role in addressing the community’s grievances.
During the meeting, Mahesh Dixit also sought details of vulnerable Kuki-Zo villages requiring enhanced security. The KZC said it has submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlining its key demands.
The council said Kuki-Zo residents in Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, Kamjong and Noney districts have been among the worst affected by the ongoing crisis.
The economic blockade, which intensified after the killing of three Thadou-Kuki pastors in Kangpokpi on May 13, has severely disrupted the transportation of essential commodities. The situation deteriorated further after the bodies of six Naga men, who had gone missing the same day, were recovered in Kangpokpi on June 10. Police later arrested a couple in connection with the killings.
With transport routes blocked, residents have reported steep price hikes and shortages of daily necessities. According to the KZC, a half bag of rice is being sold for around Rs. 3,500, petrol costs nearly Rs. 250 per litre, while LPG cylinders are reportedly priced between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 5,000, where available.
The council also alleged that residents of Chassad and Aishi villages in Kamjong district have been socially and economically isolated, claiming they are unable to purchase essential goods from nearby markets despite having the means to do so.
The KZC urged the Centre to ensure the reopening of all blocked routes and restore the uninterrupted supply of food, fuel, medicines and other essential commodities to the affected areas while expediting the ongoing political dialogue.