Imphal: Somdal village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district is preparing to welcome NSCN (IM) chief Th. Muivah, who is set to visit his birthplace on October 22, his first visit in over 50 years.
The 91-year-old Naga leader had left the village decades ago to join the insurgency.
Muivah, the chief negotiator in the Naga peace talks with the Centre since the NSCN(IM) signed a ceasefire in 1997, is expected to spend a week in Somdal before heading to Dimapur, an official said.
The visit comes against the backdrop of ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, where clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023 have left over 260 people dead and displaced thousands.
Authorities in the Tangkhul Naga-majority village, along with student unions, civil society organisations, and the church, are working together to ensure a smooth visit. Welcome hoardings for Muivah have been put up across Ukhrul district headquarters and Somdal village. The Tangkhul Nagas form the largest Naga tribe in Manipur.
“Muivah is scheduled to arrive at Ukhrul district headquarters on Wednesday by helicopter from Nagaland’s Dimapur and will be welcomed by Tangkhul Naga people in traditional attire,” an official said. After a programme at the district headquarters, he will travel by road to his native village.
“Unlike his attempted visit in 2010, which was halted by the then Manipur government, this visit has not encountered any resistance. Several organisations from non-Naga communities have also welcomed his planned visit,” a Naga civil society leader said.
Local volunteers are also working in close coordination to ensure that no untoward incident occurs during Muivah’s proposed visit.
The Naga leader attempted to visit his native village in 2010. However, the then Congress government in Manipur, headed by Okram Ibobi Singh, prevented him from entering the state, leading to protests by Nagas.
Police forces were deployed along the Manipur-Nagaland inter-state boundary to prevent Muivah from entering the state.
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Born in 1934, Muivah is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the contemporary Naga political movement. His name has become synonymous with the Naga struggle for identity and autonomy. Several organisations representing the Kuki, Zomi, and Meitei communities in Manipur have also welcomed his proposed visit.
