Never blocked NH, buffer zone sanctity paramount: Kukis reject Centre’s claim

In a major embarrassment to the Centre just days after it announced that the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) had “decided” to open NH-2, which connects Manipur with Nagaland for free movement of commuters and essential goods, the KNO and UPF -- the signatories of peace pact with the Centre -- on Saturday clarified that it was never blocked and that their appeal shouldn’t be misinterpreted as an endorsement of unrestricted movement across buffer zones between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas on Manipur stretch of the highway.

The development might set back the Centre’s efforts to maintain the fragile peace in the region amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speculated visit to the state, tentatively next week, even though neither the Centre nor the BJP have officially confirmed it.

The joint statement by the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF) said that the sanctity of the Kuki-Zo and Meitei buffer zones was paramount and that the responsibility of securing the highway was with the Centre and its security forces.

Meanwhile, the Meiteis criticised the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA’s) statement issued on September 4 after the signing of Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the KNO and UPF as well as the announcement of the opening of NH-2.

In a statement on Saturday, the Meitei Heritage Society (MHS) said the Centre’s claim of KZC opening the national highway was “misleading and contradicted by the official statement issued by the Chin Kuki militants”.

“The Meitei Heritage Society expresses serious concern over the press release issued by the MHA on September 4, 2025, stating the Kuki Zo Council has agreed to open the national highway. The claim is misleading and contradicted by the official statement issued by the Chin Kuki militants, with whom the MHA ironically signed the controversial SoO agreement the same day and was part of the same press release,” read the statement by the MHS.

On September 4, after the SoO was signed between the Centre, the Manipur Government, KNO and the UPF, the MHA had issued a statement saying, “In a significant decision, the Kuki-Zo Council has decided today to open the National Highway-2 for free movement of commuters and essential goods.”

“The decision came after a series of meetings between officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a delegation of the KZC in the last few days in New Delhi. The KZC has given commitment to cooperating with the security forces deployed by the Government of India to maintain peace along NH-2,” it added.

However, the MHS statement said, “The MHA statement is deeply concerning because it suggests that the authority to open or close the nationals highways in Manipur lies with a private organisation and not with the Indian State.”

“Besides, the fundamental right of free movement provided by the Constitution will be dictated by militants and private organisations; not enforced by the Indian State. This is both embarrassing and unacceptable,” it added.

The group further said, “It appears the misleading ‘highway opening’ narrative was inserted to distract attention from the signing of the SoO agreement, as it bypassed the earlier decision of the elected Manipur Government, ignoring evidences submitted by several organisations across community lines. It established the involvement of SoO militants in the ongoing Manipur crisis and their repeated violations of ground rules.”

It added that the “misleading” press statement by the MHA may give a false understanding to the Meiteis public that it was safe to travel on the said highway, putting them at risk of being killed by the Chin-Kuki militant and armed groups.

“We request the Ministry of Home Affairs to clarify on the misleading press release in the interest of public safety and ensure the safety of Meitei travellers, if the highways are indeed open,” the MHS appealed to the Centre.

The joint statement by the KNO and UPF said that regarding its position on the NH-2 via Kangpokpi (in Manipur), contrary to misinformed narratives, Kuki-Zo community never closed or blocked the highway.

The KZC’s appeal was specifically confined to the Kangpokpi stretch (in Manipur) and aimed at encouraging cooperation with the central security forces to ensure the safe passage of essential goods.

This gesture should not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of unrestricted movement across buffer zones between Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas. The sanctity of buffer zones is paramount and the responsibility of securing national highways is with the Centre and its forces, it added.

Owing to the conflict between the two communities since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, buffer zones have been created between areas having their majority populations. While Kukis claim that the said national highway is open to normal traffic, the Meiteis claim that their community members are not allowed by Kuki militants groups to use the highway.

Meanwhile the decision by the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki-Zo groups to extend the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact and reaching an agreement to reopen a key national highway (number 2) has been opposed by both Kuki and majority Meitei groups, thus exposing the cracks in the fragile peace which exists in the strife-torn state.

One of the largest Meitei civil society groups in Manipur, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has strongly “condemned” and “rejected” the Centre’s decision to extend the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Chin-Kuki groups, announced on September 4, in New Delhi.

In a statement, COCOMI said it strongly condemned and

opposed the Government of India’s decision to extend the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement with the Chin-Kuki armed narco-terrorist groups.

The extension of the SoO agreement despite the series of terrorist and criminal acts committed by these groups is a decision that runs completely against the interests of the indigenous people of Manipur.

The Village Volunteers Coordinating Committee, a key Kuki group, active at the grassroot level, also expressed "shock" and rejected the decision to reopen NH-2 .

It said in a statement that the decision was taken without consulting the general public and key stakeholders, reaffirming that no free movement would be allowed to Meiteis in Kuki areas until their demand for a separate administration is accepted.

Interestingly, volunteers in fact said that the groups which signed the SoO, are not mandated representatives of Kukis.

Although the committee added that it doesn’t “oppose the decision to sign the SoO, whether they choose to uphold the territorial integrity of Manipur, is a matter of the SoO groups themselves.