Imphal: The Manipur Police have urged the Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) to lift its ongoing indefinite shutdown and allow safe passage for the Kuki-Zo community through Naga-inhabited areas, as tensions continue over the disputed German-Tiger Road.
Senior police officials held a key meeting with FNCC leaders at the state police headquarters on Tuesday to discuss the group’s grievances.
The FNCC, representing sections of the Naga population, has enforced the shutdown since July 18 in protest against what it claims are threats to ancestral land and identity due to road construction through Naga territory.
Officials said the police assured the FNCC that all legitimate concerns would be addressed seriously and in a time-bound manner.
“The government appeals for the blockade to be lifted in the interest of public peace and dialogue,” a senior official said.
At the heart of the conflict lies the German-Tiger Road, a reactivated inter-village route built by Kuki-Zo civil society groups following the ethnic clashes of May 3, 2023.
According to the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the route became a humanitarian necessity after Kuki-Zo populations were cut off from Meitei-dominated areas, rendering existing roads inaccessible.
The KZC described the road—linking Churachandpur and Kangpokpi—as a critical lifeline for thousands.
“With Sugnu no longer an option, we rely solely on the Singheu route to maintain access to Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal,” said Ginza Vualzong, KZC Secretary of Information and Publicity.
The FNCC, however, views the construction of these roads as a violation of traditional land rights.
In a statement, FNCC Secretary B. Robin Kabui said the move was carried out without informing Naga communities and amounted to a “blatant disregard for ancestral ownership.”
The KZC also condemned allegations—circulating among some Meitei groups—that the German-Tiger and Singheu routes are being used as drug corridors.
“These are unfounded, dangerous claims meant to defame the Kuki-Zo community and disrupt already fragile links,” the KZC said, calling on the Centre to dismiss such “divisive propaganda” and instead focus on improving road access.
