Imphal: The Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council Manipur (WC-JTCM) has strongly opposed Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s proposed maiden visit to Luangkao Village Manipur’s in Tamenglong district, scheduled for September 12, 2026.
The visit includes a scheduled review of the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at the birthplace of the renowned Naga freedom fighter and spiritual leader.
In a press release, the WC-JTCM appealed to the Naga public, civil society organizations, and village authorities to boycott all official engagements and refrain from meeting government officials regarding development projects, relief assistance, or political dialogue until the interests of Naga communities are duly consulted.
The committee stated it “does not approve” of the visit at this juncture, citing the unresolved abduction and killing of six Liangmai Naga men at Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13, 2026.
The JTCM stated that 119 days have passed since the incident, yet the mortal remains of the victims remain unclaimed at the JNIMS morgue in Imphal.
The committee alleged that no arrests have been made and the investigation has failed to conclude, leaving the families without closure. Against this backdrop, the council maintained that holding official programmes or public engagements in Naga areas is inappropriate.
While acknowledging Rani Gaidinliu as a “legendary freedom fighter and founder of the Heraka faith,” the JTCM demanded that the government prioritize justice before undertaking any humanitarian, developmental, or political visits to the region. “Justice first.
Then everything else,” the committee stated, warning that the community’s patience should not be taken for granted and that no individual or organization should claim to speak on behalf of the Naga people without a collective mandate.