Senapati, August 8: The Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) has issued a statement clarifying the purpose of the ongoing bandh in Naga-inhabited foothill regions, stressing that the agitation is not aimed at the Zomi or Hmar-Lushai (Mizo) communities.
In a press release, the FNCC underscored the long history of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between the Naga people and these communities. “Our shared history is rooted in cooperation, not conflict, and that legacy remains unbroken,” the statement noted.
However, the Committee asserted that the bandh is a direct response to “aggressive, deliberate, and expansionist provocations” allegedly carried out by groups linked to the Working Committee of Kuki Civil Society Organizations (Kuki CSOs) and the self-styled Western Kuki-Zo Intelligence Council (WKZIC). FNCC accused these groups of repeatedly engaging in territorial encroachment and political manipulation, thereby destabilizing the already fragile peace in the region.
Criticising previous economic blockades by Kuki groups, FNCC labelled them “economic terrorism” that kept Manipur under siege for over 27 months. The statement argued that it was hypocritical for such groups to invoke constitutional protections like Article 21 or the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, after having crippled vital supply routes and pushed millions to the brink.
Issuing a stern warning, FNCC said that any attempt by the Kuki CSOs to block National Highway 2 (NH-2) or disrupt the movement of goods and people would result in the complete sealing of all Naga-controlled routes to Kuki access. This would include NH-2, NH-37, as well as key roads through Peren district in Nagaland and parts of NC Hills in Assam.
The Committee stated that any negative fallout from such provocations would rest entirely on the shoulders of the Working Committee, Kuki CSOs. The statement concluded with an appeal for restraint, urging all concerned groups to avoid further acts that could fuel unrest in the region.
