Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: A delegation from the Liangmai Naga Council (LNC), led by President Timothy Wijunamai, Speaker Kawidinlungbou, Chairman Lungjinbuibou, and social activist Lungphakbou Newmai, called on Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh at the Secretariat on June 14.
During the meeting, the delegation apprised the Chief Minister of various issues concerning the welfare and development of the Liangmai community.
Among the matters discussed was a proposal to construct an 8-km road that would serve as a vital lifeline by strengthening connectivity and improving access for residents.
The Chief Minister wrote on his official Facebook page: “The government has taken note of the proposal and will examine it with due diligence and seriousness to assess its feasibility for implementation. We remain committed to promoting inclusive development and ensuring that the benefits of progress reach every community across the state.”
The demands from the LNC were raised following the abduction and murder of six of its community members by suspected Kuki militants. The victims were identified as Kenpibou Chawang, Manu Thiumai, Phenrongwibo Thiumai, Dilip Thiumai, Kaliwangbou Abonmai and Ch. Phenrilung.
The highly mutilated and dismembered bodies of the six men were recovered on June 10 in Kangpokpi district, sparking massive public outrage.
These men were part of a group of 18 Naga civilians abducted on May 13 from Leilon Vaiphei village by suspected armed Kuki militants.
While 12 individuals, including women and children, were eventually released, the remaining six were held captive.
Following a massive search operation involving 450 personnel from the Manipur Police, CRPF and Assam Rifles, the decomposed remains were recovered and taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal.
The incident has severely heightened ethnic tensions across the state.
In response, the United Naga Council (UNC) called for a 24-hour shutdown in Naga-inhabited areas, while Liangmai women have launched an indefinite economic blockade along National Highway-2, refusing to claim the bodies.
The case has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a detailed forensic probe.
Naga civil bodies and organisations, such as the Committee Against Atrocity on Public of Protestors in Manipur (PAPPM), have blamed the Kuki National Front–President (KNF-P) for the killings and demanded the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
Demonstrators and advocacy groups have also called for the removal of Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, citing allegations that the prime suspect is connected to the minister.