April 10, Imphal On Thursday, the Meitei population was advised by six Kuki tribal groups, notably the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), not to approach the Kuki-Zo-Hmar inhabited regions by crossing the buffer zone, or neutral zones.

In a joint statement, the six Kuki tribal groups said that there was conjecture that members of the Meitei community planned to breach the buffer zone for Ching Kaba in Thangting or Thangjing Hills in April.

“No such friendly approach to the jurisdiction of Kuki-Zo-Hmar land would be allowed for the Meitei community unless and until the government of India reaches a political settlement for the Kuki-Zo-Hmar community under the Constitution of India,” the statement said.

According to the groups, each community must maintain the status quo and respect the buffer zone in order to prevent further escalation.

The statement asked the government to take action to protect the interests of the two communities and said that the Kuki-Zo-Hmar community would fight tooth and nail against any attempt to breach the buffer zone.

The Churachandpur district is home to the high peak known as Thangting or Thangjing Hills.

The Imphal Valley’s western boundary is partially formed by the mountain range that runs north to south.

On Thursday, curfew was loosened for more than 16 hours in the district of Churachandpur, which is populated by tribal people.

“The curfew imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, prohibiting unlawful movement and assembly of persons outside their respective residences, is hereby amended on April 10 in order to facilitate access to essential items and services for the public of Churachandpur District, particularly in the town areas,” stated District Magistrate Dharun Kumar S in a notification. The prohibitory order was loosened as a result of the improved state of law and order.

Due to tensions over raising community flags in a “disputed area” between two villages that are home to different tribes, a curfew was enforced in portions of Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Wednesday.

Following the raising of community flags in the “disputed area” between V Munhoih and Rengkai villages in the Churachandpur subdivision on Tuesday, tensions between the Zomi and Hmar tribes flared.