IMPHAL: The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga body in the Northeast, on Saturday, stated that the Nagas residing in the strife-torn Manipur have become victims of its neutrality to the conflict between Kikis ans Meiteis that entered its ninth months on February 3.
Around 200 people lost their lives in the clashes in Manipur.
In this connection, the UNC reiterated its appeals to the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo groups, the two warring groups, to desist from targeting the Nagas in the name of the restoration of peace and normalcy.
The UNC, in a statement, stated that “unacceptable acts” were also perpetrated upon the Nagas cutting off inter-village roads/blockade/construction of bunkers/checking/frisking/extortion of taxes along the National Highways and inter-district roads by armed Kuki militants and womenfolk.
In the valley, the frisking/checking, violent behavior, kidnapping, looting, and extortion were meted out against Nagas apart from collecting money from citizens on highways by Meira Paibis in the name of waging war against a community, the statement said.
Manipur is inhabited by three major ethnic groups, the Meiteis in the valley, the Nagas, and the kuki-chin tribes in the hills.
The Meiteis make up about 53% of the state’s population and the Nagas about 24% of the state’s population