Tribal organisations representing the Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur have appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the creation of a Union Territory for the hill districts, citing it as a solution to ongoing state violence.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) submitted memoranda to Shah through district magistrates, advocating for a Union Territory with legislative powers under Article 239 (A) of the Indian Constitution.
In their proposals, the CoTU also recommended the formation of a Kuki-Zo regiment within the Indian military by integrating existing village volunteer forces, aimed at curbing armed insurgency among young defenders.
Highlighting stalled public infrastructure projects in Kuki-Zo areas, the tribal outfits accused the state government of discriminatory job recruitments, which excluded tribal youth unable to travel to the capital.
Pending a political resolution, the ITLF suggested establishing a separate secretariat for the hill districts under central administration.
Meanwhile, in Imphal, vendors from Ima Market organized under the Khwairamband Ima Keithel Coordinating Committee for Peace protested for parliamentary intervention against state violence.
Contrary to the Kuki-Zo community’s separatist demands, the women urged the Centre to uphold Manipur’s unity and integrity.
Police intervened as protesters attempted to march towards the Manipur Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister’s Bungalow, halting them at Kangla Fort and redirecting them to Khwairamband Bazar.
Separately, the World Meetei Council reiterated its call for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Meiteis in a letter to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, a long-standing issue that sparked violence last May.
Following a recent meeting, the Council issued an ultimatum for Singh to recommend ST status by August, aligning with the 2026 delimitation exercise.
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