Kangpokpi, January 12, 2026: The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has alleged that the January 8 bomb attack at Kharam Vaiphei and the road blockade imposed on January 12 at Ireng Naga Village targeting Kuki-Zo commuters are deliberate attempts to inflame inter-tribal animosity in Kangpokpi district.
In a press communiqué issued on Monday, CoTU claimed that the incidents were aimed at provoking the Kuki-Zo community and disrupting harmony among tribal groups inhabiting the region. The committee alleged that intermittent road blockades along routes used by Kuki-Zo commuters in areas dominated by Liangmei and Rongmei Naga communities have intensified since the imposition of Governor’s Rule.
CoTU further alleged that valley-based organisations, backed by sections of the Meitei/Meetei community, were using groups such as the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) to carry out such actions, with the intent of provoking Kuki-Zo communities and escalating tensions.
While acknowledging the political and security concerns of the Naga community in Imphal Valley as a minority, CoTU appealed to Naga organisations to maintain neutrality and not act as proxies in what it termed “tribal persecution.” The committee urged them to refrain from actions that could deepen mistrust among tribal communities.
Calling for immediate corrective steps, CoTU advised villagers of Ireng Naga Village to lift the blockade on the Churachandpur–Kangpokpi road at the earliest to prevent further misunderstandings and deterioration of inter-community relations.
