In a major step toward restoring normalcy in conflict-torn Manipur, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has officially announced the reopening of the state’s National Highways for the unrestricted movement of all communities.
The bold declaration was made during the Chief Minister’s high-profile visit to the Kangpokpi District Headquarters on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The decision has been widely seen as a crucial breakthrough for the state’s residents, who have faced severe disruptions and economic blockades since the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023.
TNL applauds, reiterates demands
The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) issued a statement on Saturday welcoming the development. While praising the Khemchand administration’s “resolute decision,” the apex Tangkhul Naga customary body cautioned that physical connectivity alone would not heal the state’s deep-seated divisions.
“We pat the Chief Minister on his shoulders for this bold step, which is a highly welcomed move for our conflict-ridden people,” said a statement issued by the TNL Working Committee. “However, a promise made to the public must be fully realized on the ground if the government wishes to truly instil confidence. There remain several pertinent questions that this political dispensation has yet to answer.”
The TNL emphasized that the Naga community remains committed to the collective interests of the Nagas in Manipur. Since the outbreak of the 2023 conflict, Naga civil society organizations have maintained a set of peaceful demands aimed at restoring long-term stability, which they claim have been largely ignored by both the state and central governments.
Ten-point charter
To ensure lasting peace, the TNL reaffirmed its stance on a strict 10-point charter of demands. Chief among these is the immediate demilitarization of Naga-inhabited areas and the withdrawal of all central security forces deployed there.
The charter also strongly opposes any administrative reorganization of the state, asserting that “no separate homeland or administrative arrangement” should be carved out for the Kuki community within ancestral Naga territories.
What TNL is demanding
The identification, rehabilitation, and eventual deportation of illegal Kuki immigrants and refugees to their countries of origin.
The immediate relocation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) away from Naga-inhabited areas.
The abrogation of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups.
Direct action to ensure Indian territory is not used by immigrants to run poppy and drug cartels.
The eviction of unrecognized and illegal Kuki settlements, alongside the cancellation of illegal land ownership documents (Touzis and Pattas).
The TNL also demanded immediate justice for past acts of violence, specifically pointing to the deadly ambush near TM Kasom that killed two innocent Tangkhul Nagas, and the abduction and murder of six Liangmai Nagas at Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi.
Allegations of Developmental Bias
Beyond security and territorial concerns, the TNL accused the state government of harboring a developmental bias, claiming the administration has consistently prioritized Kuki-dominated areas while neglecting Naga districts.
Lopsided approach?
“The Khemchand-led ministry has been remarkably quick to reach out to the Kukis, showering them with development schemes and administrative doles at their mere hiccups,” the TNL statement read. “Meanwhile, our repeated pleas for bridging the massive development gaps in our health, education, and road infrastructure sectors continue to fall on deaf ears.”
The TNL Working Committee warned that true peace in Manipur cannot be achieved through selective appeasement. The body urged both the state government in Imphal and the central government in New Delhi to take their charter of demands in all earnestness if they wish to usher in a genuine era of normalcy.
