KANGPOKPI, July 2: Amid the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, the Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association (SAHILCA) has banned all government activities in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of Kangpokpi district, citing the prevailing climate of fear, mistrust, and insecurity.
In a press release dated July 2, SAHILCA announced a complete prohibition on any programmes or interventions by the Forest Department or other departments of the Government of Manipur in the region. The association stated that such activities are “not welcome under the current volatile circumstances”, and ordered the Forest Department to immediately cease all operations within the district.
The ban also extends to government outreach initiatives, including the “Go to Hills” and “Go to Villages” programmes, which are designed to bring administrative services to remote communities. SAHILCA directed the Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Officers of Kangpokpi to halt these efforts in Kuki-Zo areas until peace and normalcy are restored.
In the statement, SAHILCA strongly opposed any government-led activities in Kuki-Zo dominated areas, declaring that they would not cooperate with the state machinery until the “present violent conflict” in Manipur is “amicably resolved.” The association emphasized that the blanket rejection of state interventions is rooted in the deepening ethnic divide and breakdown of trust triggered by the violence that erupted in May 2023 between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
