Imphal | EKHON: The United Naga Council (UNC) issued a firm and direct message after convening a high-level consultation in Imphal on Thursday, warning that continued neglect of Naga concerns could compel the community to take decisive action.
Held at the Tangkhul Baptist Church Imphal, the closed-door meeting drew Naga leaders, civil society representatives, church authorities, student bodies, intellectuals, and citizens from Naga-inhabited districts of the state.
The consultation focused on the deteriorating situation in Naga ancestral areas, with participants deliberating on mounting challenges and the urgent need for concrete safeguards.
Addressing the media, UNC president NG Lorho said the deliberations were substantive and reflected a unified and determined voice.
“The Nagas are a peace-loving people, and we seek peaceful coexistence with all communities in the state. However, if our stand for neutrality is misconstrued as weakness, we are bound to defend our people and protect our land,” Lorho said.
Reaffirming the community’s position, he stressed that Nagas are neither aggressors nor oppressors, but will not hesitate to act when their rights, land, and security are threatened.
A major concern raised was the prolonged lack of safe passage along the Imphal–Ukhrul stretch of National Highway 202. Lorho sharply criticised what he described as inadequate security deployment, particularly along the vulnerable 3–5 km stretch between Mahadev (Wungvei) and Litan, an essential lifeline for residents of Ukhrul and Kamjong.
He warned that continued inaction by the state could force the council to explore “alternative measures” to ensure the safety and movement of the people.
Lorho also questioned the government’s response to the recent Tronglaobi blast incident, despite a high-level review chaired by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, alleging a lack of seriousness in addressing the ground situation in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
Meanwhile, UNC general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang signalled a clear shift in stance. He said the UNC’s earlier neutrality in the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities was no longer tenable.
According to Shatsang, evolving ground realities and perceived threats to Naga rights have made silence impossible, compelling the community to defend its land and people.
