Indefinite bandh paralyzes foothill areas over tiger road

IMPHAL, Jul 19
An indefinite bandh called by the Foothills Naga Coordi-nation Committee (FNCC) has brought daily life to a standstill in several parts of Manipur’s foothill regions, as tensions escalate over the construction of the so-called “Tiger Road” connecting Churachandpur and Kang-pokpi districts.
The Tiger Road, initiated by Kuki organisations as a voluntary connectivity pro-ject, reportedly cuts through Naga-inhabited areas, sparking sharp opposition and unrest. The FNCC has declared the construction “unauthorised” and a direct threat to the cultural and territorial rights of the Naga people.
Protesters enforced bloc-kades at key transit points including Makhan in Kang-pokpi district and along routes such as Tongjei Maril (Old Cachar Road), Dolang Chiru, Tupul to Noney Road, Tupul–Noney Junction, and the Longsai– Khoupum Road in Noney district, officials confirmed.
Athot Keidang, president of the Manipur Naga Youth Committee (MNYC), said the proposed highway, referred to as the Shak Tupui- long (SP) road, is being pushed forward without the knowledge or consent of the local Naga population.
“This road project, connecting Kangpokpi to Churachandpur, will cut through eight to nine Naga villages. No development project should take place on our ancestral land without our approval,” Keidang said.
He added that several Naga civil society groups are supporting the bandh, which aims to safeguard the community’s territorial and cultural integrity.
FNCC core committee member Julia Shinglai further alleged that the pro- posed road is being renamed “German Road” and “Tiger Road” by sections of the Kuki community.
“Renaming roads in our territory is unacceptable. We are also opposing the establishment of Suspension of Operation (SoO) camps for Kuki militants and demanding an immediate stop to poppy cultivation in the region,” she said.
Residents of affected villages voiced similar con- cerns. Lollieu, a villager from Shak Leikhampokpi, said, “We strongly object to the renaming of the SP road. These actions undermine our identity and must be addressed by the authorities.”
The FNCC has declared that the bandh will continue indefinitely until the State Government responds to their demands and takes corrective action.
In a statement issued on Friday, the committee declared that the movement of Kuki individuals in the foothill regions of Naga areas would be completely restricted from midnight of July 18. “This is a necessary action to protect our land and people,” the statement read.
The FNCC has also demanded the immediate dismantling of camps occupied by Kuki militants under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre, alleging that these encampments exist in Naga territory without consent.
The protest gained further momentum with the support of the Eastern Liangmai Naga Chief Chairman Association, which has accused Kuki groups of “deliberate land encroachment” and attempting to rename roads and locations in Naga ancestral areas. “Such unilateral actions are not just provocative—they are a violation of our cultural and historical rights,” the association said, calling for the immediate halt and reversal of all such initiatives.
The bandh has disrupted public movement and raised fresh concerns over security and inter-community relations in the sensitive hill regions of the Atate. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation. India Today NE and North East Live