Sixteen Kuki village chiefs along the India–Myanmar frontier have refused to accept land compensation and declared a policy of “non-cooperation” against the ongoing border fencing project.
In a joint statement, the chiefs demanded that all work on the fencing and the proposed abolition of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) be suspended until the political aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people are addressed. They said they had already staged rallies and submitted memorandums to authorities, but their objections had gone unheeded.
“No compensation claims or negotiations will be entertained until our demands are met and normalcy is restored in Manipur,” the chiefs asserted.
The protest adds to the tension in the state, where Kuki organisations have been pressing for a separate administration— an idea strongly rejected by the Meitei community, which insists on preserving Manipur’s territorial and administrative integrity.
Manipur shares a 398-km-long border with Myanmar, of which fencing has so far covered only around 10 km, according to officials. The Centre has accelerated the project citing cross-border infiltration and security concerns, but the move has sparked resistance from Kuki groups who say the fencing threatens their traditional ties across the border.
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