Kanggui: The Sadar Hills District Congress Committee has urged the district administration to act immediately on a series of pressing public grievances in Kangpokpi district. The demands were raised in a formal representation submitted to the newly posted Deputy Commissioner Hemant Kumar IAS on Tuesday by a delegation led by SH-DCC President Dr. Lamtinthang Haokip.
The committee demanded that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision 2026 be conducted inclusively, ensuring that no eligible voter is excluded, especially IDPs displaced since May 3, 2023. It stressed that special facilitation centers and outreach must be arranged for displaced voters. The SH-DCC also flagged alleged discrimination between IDPs living in official relief camps and those living outside with relatives or in rented accommodations. It demanded that government relief, compensation and all welfare schemes be extended equally to both categories without bias.
On the Census, the party requested that the upcoming Census exercise for 2026-27 be deferred for the district until the IDP crisis is resolved. The committee argued that conducting the Census without proper rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced families would lead to inaccurate data and denial of their representation and rights.
Expressing deep concern over continued restrictions on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway, the Congress said reopening should not be symbolic but must ensure uninterrupted and free movement of essential commodities, fuel, medicines and daily necessities. It noted that prolonged blockade and restricted movement have hit all communities hard, leading to skyrocketing prices and collapse of livelihoods for daily wage earners, small traders and shopkeepers across Kangpokpi. The committee specifically highlighted the isolation and hardships of people in Twilang area along IT Road and South-West Sadar Hills including Leimakhong-Tingkai, where people are facing acute shortage of connectivity, healthcare and supplies.
The committee demanded that all legal proceedings and investigations related to victims of Manipur violence since May 2023 be carried out fairly, without political selectivity, prejudice or interference, calling for transparency and accountability to restore public trust.
It also drew attention to the recent surge in violence along the Kangpokpi-Senapati border belt and urged urgent confidence-building measures and dialogue among stakeholders to prevent escalation, warning that continued violence would deepen fear and mistrust among civilians.
The border violence comes against the backdrop of a renewed Kuki-Naga confrontation in 2026. After remaining largely neutral during the Meitei-Kuki conflict since 2023, tensions between the two tribal communities surfaced in February following a late-night brawl, and escalated in May after the killing of three Thadou church leaders and retaliatory abductions of over 40 villagers from both Naga and Kuki villages in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, leading to a prolonged economic blockade by Naga groups on NH-2.
The blockade, which lasted for over a month and a half and cut off supplies to Kuki dominated Kangpokpi areas, triggered protests in Kangpokpi on June 30, and culminated in fresh arson and crossfire on August 25 at Taphou Kuki and Mareimei villages along the border that left a CRPF sub-inspector injured and disrupted NH-2 traffic that had only resumed after three years. Church bodies including the Council for Baptist Churches in North East India and the Manipur Baptist Convention have offered to mediate for peace.
In an unusual move, the SH-DCC urged the Deputy Commissioner to convene a joint meeting of all political parties and civil society organizations and community leaders of Kangpokpi to collectively deliberate on public issues.
The party stated that the Congress is ready to help bring warring groups to the table through peaceful dialogue and mutual respect for lasting peace, and appealed to all sections to shun violence and choose Truth, Non-Violence and Humanity to allow the younger generation to build a future free from hatred and conflict.
