Imphal, August 13, 2025: The Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) has voiced strong opposition to the proposed construction of the Kangpokpi–Churachandpur corridor, which it claims would pass through the heart of Naga ancestral land. In a press communique, the FNCC described the road - referred to by some as the “German” or “Tiger” Road - as a “drug road,” alleging that it would primarily facilitate narcotics and arms trafficking from Myanmar into Manipur.
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| Image Credit: www.virthli.in |
The FNCC alleged that the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) lobby is pushing for the project with support from the Government of India, citing the involvement of a senior Ministry of DoNER official. The committee warned that granting legitimacy to such a road would undermine law and order and threaten inter-community harmony in the state.
According to the statement, the Kukis already control National Highway 2, where the FNCC accuses them of imposing blockades, intimidation, and extortion. It argued that the new road would become a “logistical spine” for organised criminal networks, citing figures claiming that a significant proportion of drug trafficking convictions in Manipur since 2017 involve individuals from the Kuki community.
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The FNCC further warned that the proposed corridor would be manned exclusively by armed militants and lack any formal security presence, creating what it described as an unmonitored and lawless route. “From a security standpoint, this would create an unmonitored conduit for drugs, weapons, and other contraband, significantly worsening Manipur’s fragile law-and-order situation,” the statement said.
Calling the project neither developmental nor benign, the FNCC demanded the immediate dismantling of all illegal bunkers, makeshift structures, and gates along the proposed route. It also issued a warning that, should the authorities fail to act, the committee would “without hesitation” remove such structures themselves.
