Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, July 16:
In a significant escalation of tensions in the Naga-inhabited foothill region, the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) has declared an indefinite road blockade and general strike starting midnight of July 18, 2025. The decision, announced through a press release issued by FNCC Secretary B. Robin Kabui, is in protest against what the group describes as persistent provocation, territorial encroachment, and the unauthorized settlement of Kuki refugees and illegal immigrants in traditional Naga ancestral lands.
The FNCC condemned the alleged renaming of an inter-village road within Naga territory as “German Road” or “Tiger Road” by Kuki settlers, describing the act as an affront to Naga identity and oral history. The committee asserted that these names are alien to both Naga cultural heritage and historical land records, calling the move a deliberate attempt to erase indigenous identity and assert alternative claims over the land.
Raising alarm over what it described as systematic and unlawful encroachment, the FNCC warned that the continued settlement activities pose a serious threat to the territorial integrity and indigenous rights of the Naga people. It also reiterated its demand for the dismantling of Suspension of Operations (SoO) camps of Kuki militant groups, stating that their presence near Naga-inhabited areas has created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
The committee called for collective support from the Naga community and urged the public to treat the blockade and strike as a peaceful but firm expression of resistance. It maintained that the protest is rooted in democratic means and seeks urgent intervention from authorities.
With the situation growing increasingly volatile, the announcement is expected to put further strain on the already fragile peace in the region and test the ability of governance institutions to respond to deep-rooted ethnic tensions.