Kuki-Zo seeks Centre's help to improve disputed German-Tiger Road
The community-led initiative for the road, funded through public donations, has sparked disputes, drawing opposition from the Naga community and escalating ethnic tensions.
The Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) announced an indefinite bandh on Friday midnight banning the movement of Kukis in the foothills of Naga-inhabited areas, objecting to the road's development through ancestral territories of Nagas without prior consultation.
This situation has created tension between Kuki-Zo people and Nagas, while conflicts persist between Kuki-Zos and Meiteis since the ethnic unrest began in Manipur in May 2023.
While on Sunday, KZC cautioned that attempts to obstruct Kuki-Zo community connectivity reflect an intention to isolate them. However, Meiteis remain the primary focus of Kuki-Zo people's grievances, rather than the Nagas though the latter have been largely neutral in the tribal Kuki-Zo and non-tribal Meitei conflict in Manipur over the last two years.
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"Kuki-Zo Council strongly condemns the baseless and malicious accusations being circulated by certain Meitei groups branding the German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road as 'drug routes'. These claims are entirely unfounded and without any legitimate evidence," Ginza Vualzong, secretary, information & publicity at KZC, said on Sunday.
Despite Naga objections and restrictions, KZC has sought central govt's support to develop both the routes.
While Nagas worry about potential land losses, KZC argues that the roads are essential for the community during the ongoing conflict and blockades. The council stressed that the German-Tiger Road provides a safe travel alternative by bypassing Meitei-dominated regions.
Sources said some camps of Kuki outfits that are under suspension of operation are in proximity to Naga villages, raising concerns that an upgraded German-Tiger Road would facilitate the groups' movements further.
"Nagas fear potential encroachment into their territories by Kuki-Zo people," the source said. Through public contributions, work has commenced to develop basic roads (mostly kutccha), with vehicles already using both routes.
According to KZC, improvement of the German-Tiger Road was necessary, as after ethnic violence, it was unsafe for Kuki-Zo people to travel through Meitei-dominated areas. The Singheu Road now connects Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal in absence of viable infrastructure.
"We call upon the central govts to reject these divisive and baseless allegations and, instead, take steps to improve German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road as essential inter-district lifelines," Ginza said.
"We urge the Centre to reject divisive rhetoric and recognize these roads as lifelines—not criminal pathways," Ginza added.
"Accusing the German-Tiger Road and Singheu Road of being a conduit for illicit activities without presenting credible evidence is nothing short of a deliberate attempt to criminalise the Kuki-Zo community and to isolate us further. This tactic may also reflect a broader political effort to shift discourse away from the unfolding Biren Audio Tape case," Ginza alleged.
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