Rebel leader Muivah to visit ancestral village in Manipur on October 22

NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, who left his ancestral Somdal village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district 55 years ago to seek freedom for Nagas, will visit his birthplace on Wednesday, sources have confirmed.

The 91-year old Naga leader is likely to stay in Somdal for some days before proceeding to Dimapur, Nagaland, the sources said. According to local media reports, hectic preparations are going on in Ukhrul town and Somdal village for Muivah’s homecoming.

Officials said Muivah, who has been the chief negotiator in the Naga peace talks with the Union government since the NSCN-IM entered into a ceasefire in 1997, is likely to stay in Somdal and Senapati districts for a few days before returning to Dimapur in Nagaland.

Muivah’s much-anticipated visit comes at a time when Manipur continues to recover from the ethnic violence between the non-tribal Meiteis and Kuki-Zo tribal groups that erupted in May 2023. More than 260 people from both communities have been killed, and around 70,000 displaced in the conflict.

Widespread destruction of government and private properties, including religious establishments, has also been reported across 10 of Manipur’s 16 districts.

Following months of unrest, President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, four days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from his post.