Ukhrul: Manipur Police have denied the existence of a group calling itself the ‘Kuki Zo Village Volunteers Eastern Zone’ (KZVV EZ), which recently issued a directive warning Meitei community members against entering Kuki-inhabited areas during the upcoming Shirui Lily Festival.
In an official statement, police said: “It has come to the notice of Manipur Police that a press statement dated 11th May 2025 issued by one unknown organisation Kuki Zo Village Volunteer-Eastern Zone is being circulated on social media and local vernaculars. The unknown organisation has warned members of the Meitei community against entering or crossing Kuki-inhabited areas for the upcoming Shirui Festival.”
Following an investigation, district police authorities confirmed no such group exists, urging the public not to believe the “unfounded and baseless” threats.
The police assured that adequate security arrangements would be made to ensure safe and free movement of the public during the festival and appealed for public cooperation in maintaining peace.
The Shirui Lily Festival, a major state-level event celebrating the rare Shirui Lily flower, is scheduled to be held from May 20 to May 24 in Ukhrul district, home to the Tangkhul Naga community.
Meanwhile, the NSCN has strongly condemned the threat, calling it “outrageous” and “provocative”.
“NSCN shall not tolerate if KZVV EZ makes any wild attempt to disturb the streaming tourists targeting any particular community travelling to Ukhrul/Shirui village. Let this message be loud and clear that the territorial jurisdiction of the so-called Kukiland doesn’t cover even an inch of Naga territory in Ukhrul,” the statement read.
Adding to the confusion, a Kuki group named ‘Village Volunteers Eastern Zone’ clarified that it has “no affiliation” or “connection” with the alleged Kuki Zo Village Volunteers Eastern Zone.
The backdrop to this tension remains the ethnic conflict that has gripped Manipur since May 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 250 people and displacement of thousands, mostly between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
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