MMTU alleges intimidation of Nepali Gorkhas in Kangpokpi by Sadar Hills Chiefs Association

The Meetei/Meitei Tribe Union (MMTU) has raised serious concerns over alleged intimidation and coercive tactics used against the Nepali Gorkha community residing in Kangpokpi district by the Sadar Hills Chief Association (SAHILCA). In a press statement, the Union claimed that these actions are part of a broader strategy to displace the Gorkhas and occupy their villages.
According to MMTU, the root of this issue lies in a long-term agenda pursued by Kuki groups who migrated from Myanmar. The Union alleged that these groups have been systematically expanding their presence by displacing indigenous communities and various ethnic groups, and then asserting ownership over the land through fabricated claims and settlements.
The Union claimed that these attempts are aimed at forming a new territorial entity under the name “Zalangam,” with renamed villages and newly established Kuki settlements. Panchayat segments are allegedly being incorporated into district council jurisdictions without proper consultation, thereby undermining the traditional structures of local governance.
MMTU also alleged that in recent years, several community leaders, including L. Moses Kom (2022), Serto Ahao Kom, president of Kom Union (2023), social activist Ahom Kom, and Dr. Thangmeilen Kom (2024), have been subjected to pressure and threats. On May 24, the chief of Konshakhul village, Aimsom Liyangmei, was reportedly declared an “outsider” by certain Kuki groups.
The Union pointed out that the Nepali Gorkhas have a long-settled presence in Manipur, with documented records dating back to 1819. Many families reportedly settled during the reign of Maharaja Budhachandra in 1941, including the family of Ishwori, the first recorded Nepali woman in Manipur. These families, MMTU said, have lived peacefully under legal authority and traditional village systems for decades.
However, the Union claims that Kangpokpi district is now being increasingly labeled as a Kuki-occupied zone, allegedly as part of a strategy to eliminate other communities from the region. MMTU stated that many current Kuki settlements are based on migration from Myanmar, and are located on land historically occupied by other ethnic groups.
The Union further noted that the hill districts of Manipur have expanded significantly since 1969, when areas like Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal were first designated as subdivisions before being upgraded to full districts in 1972. MMTU cited cases of 29 villages from Jiribam and 42 villages from Thoubal being transferred to Churachandpur district in subsequent years. In 2012, a Manipur government gazette notification brought areas such as Charhajar and Kalapahar under district council jurisdiction.
Highlighting a broader trend, the Union claimed that more than 2,500 unauthorized Kuki villages have sprung up in recent years in border areas such as Kamjong, allegedly without verification. MMTU attributed this to unchecked migration from Myanmar, citing major influxes during the 1962 and 2021 military coups, and the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.
The Union alleged that the descendants of these migrants have since assumed chieftainship in newly established villages, even though official recognition of such roles by the state only began in 1967. MMTU also referred to the 1993 Naga-Kuki conflict, during which original Kabui and Tangkhul settlements in Moreh were reportedly displaced.
The Indo-Myanmar border regime, which permits free movement within 40 kilometers on either side of the 398-kilometer international boundary, has also facilitated illegal settlements, MMTU claimed. It noted that the Foreigners Pass Act was withdrawn from Manipur in 1951, further weakening state control over migration.
Between 1981 and 1991, the Thadou Kuki population reportedly rose from 54,467 to 121,994 — a 116% increase. A similar trend was observed in Jiribam, where members of the Hmar community are said to have migrated and settled in large numbers.