Tension surfaced in parts of Saikul today as groups of local residents staged protests against three Kuki-Zo MLAs—Nemcha Kipgen, L.M. Khoute, and N. Sanate—following their participation in the formation of the new Manipur government.
Protesters were seen raising slogans and later burning effigies of the three legislators as a mark of opposition.
Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), in a press statement issued from its headquarters in Lamka on February 5, strongly condemned the involvement of certain Kuki-Zo MLAs in the formation of the Manipur Government. The Council said the move violates the Lungthu Resolution dated January 13, 2026, which, it claimed, resolved not to participate in government formation without a written political commitment from the Centre and the State regarding a negotiated political settlement.
The KZC termed the MLAs’ participation a “serious betrayal” of the collective stand and announced a social boycott against those involved in all Kuki-Zo areas. The organisation urged people not to cooperate with the MLAs in social, customary, or public matters until they withdraw from the government formation and realign with the community’s position.
