Songpi: April 14, 2026
The Ihang-Bungpi Working Committee (IBWC), Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District, on Monday issued a sharp condemnation of a “Security Restriction Notice” put out by the Roudei (T.M. Kasom) Village Authority in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. The committee called the directive “unlawful, untenable and a direct challenge to constitutional authority,” warning that it undermines the rule of law in a conflict-sensitive region.
The notice in question, dated April 12, allegedly seeks to restrict the entry and functioning of Indian security forces within the jurisdiction of Roudei (T.M. Kasom) village unless prior permission is obtained from the local authority. The IBWC said such a condition has no basis in law and interferes with the mandate of state agencies responsible for maintaining public order.
Calling the move “a grave overreach,” the IBWC stated that the regulation, movement, and deployment of security forces fall strictly under the domain of the State and Union governments. “These powers cannot be dictated, vetoed, or obstructed by local bodies,” the committee said in a statement released Monday.
The committee asserted that the village authority’s directive stands in direct contravention of established legal and constitutional provisions. “Any attempt to control or restrict lawful security operations by a village authority has no legal standing whatsoever,” the IBWC said, adding that policing and national security are not subjects devolved to village-level bodies.
To support its position, the IBWC cited the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act, 1956. The committee noted that the Act vests village authorities only with limited administrative and customary roles, including local dispute resolution and management of village resources. It stressed that the Act does not grant jurisdiction over matters of national security, armed forces deployment, or policing beyond minor local issues.
The IBWC warned that such directives could have “serious ramifications” for law and order, especially in areas already dealing with ethnic tensions and sporadic violence. It said attempts to curtail security force access risk undermining ongoing efforts to stabilise the situation and ensure civilian safety across Kangpokpi and Ukhrul districts.
Raising specific concerns, the committee said any obstruction to the movement or operations of security personnel could weaken operational effectiveness, delay response times during emergencies, and expose vulnerable populations to heightened risks. It argued that uniform application of security protocols is critical in the hill areas of Manipur given the current security environment.
In its statement, the IBWC placed a set of urgent demands before the state and central authorities. It sought immediate cognisance of the matter and a formal declaration that the Roudei (T.M. Kasom) notice is “null and void.” It also demanded that unobstructed functioning of security forces be ensured, action be initiated against those responsible for issuing the directive, and security arrangements be strengthened in sensitive areas.
“The authority of the State, the operational freedom of security forces, and the safety of civilians must be upheld at all times,” the IBWC asserted. The committee further urged both the Government of India and the Manipur government to intervene without delay and take decisive steps to prevent any erosion of legal and administrative order in the region.
Edited by Kukiland Media
