Tamenglong, September 22, 2026: The Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council (JTC)-Manipur has issued a rebuttal to the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), Sadar Hills, over its endorsement of the KSO Twilang Block ultimatum and reported threat of “stringent counter-action” against the ongoing economic blockade.
In a statement issued on September 22, JTC-Manipur described COTU’s position as “deeply misguided and dangerously inflammatory” and said the rebuttal was intended to challenge what it termed a false narrative surrounding the ongoing situation.
According to the JTC, the economic blockade is a decision of the United Naga Council (UNC), which it described as the apex body of the Naga tribes, rather than an action initiated solely by the Liangmai community. The committee maintained that the blockade should not be viewed as a localised Liangmai issue.
JTC-Manipur also rejected the framing of the matter as a “Liangmai vs. Kuki” conflict. It stated that the issue was connected to a demand for justice concerning the killing of six Naga men and argued that reducing the matter to an inter-community dispute would divert attention from the underlying issue.
The committee further stated that the blockade would continue until justice is delivered for the six deceased Naga men. It described the action as a form of peaceful protest and said the UNC and the Naga people were exercising their democratic right to protest.
The JTC also warned that any attempt to forcibly break the blockade could lead to unwanted incidents and placed responsibility for any such consequences on those attempting to violate the blockade.
Calling on COTU to refrain from what it termed “divisive rhetoric,” the JTC urged respect for the authority of the UNC and appealed for collective support for its demand for justice.
The statement was issued by the Information & Publicity, Working Committee, JTC-Manipur.
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