The United Naga Council (UNC) in Manipur has imposed a seven-year ban with immediate effect on Congress MP Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur and two others from participating in public forums or holding leadership roles within the Naga community.

The other individuals affected are S. Kho John and Allyson Abonmai, who ran as independent candidates in the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, placing third and fourth respectively behind Arthur and Kachui Timothy Zimik of the Naga People’s Front (NPF).

In a notification on June 13, the UNC stated that this action was taken due to their deliberate defiance and lack of respect towards the UNC’s authority during the recent Lok Sabha elections. The UNC also accused them of attempting to undermine the unity and collective position of the Naga people.

The notification, signed by H. James Hau, the UNC’s information and publicity secretary, specifies that the trio is “debarred from public platforms, and holding any position or leadership in the Naga society for a period of seven years with immediate effect”.

The UNC directive mandates all its affiliated units and the Naga populace at large to adhere to this resolution within their respective jurisdictions.

While Arthur and Zimik belong to the Tangkhul community, John is Poumai and Abonmai Liangmai.

Criticism has surfaced on social media platforms regarding the notification’s omission of Zimik’s name, who lost to Arthur by 85,418 votes in the Outer Manipur constituency. The NPF’s Lorho S. Pfoze had won the seat in 2019.

Some view the UNC’s decision as a reaction to the NPF’s failure to retain the seat, although the UNC maintains it was based on a resolution adopted during an emergency assembly on May 29, a week before the election results.

The Outer Manipur election, covering 28 Assembly segments, was conducted in two phases on April 19 and April 26. Campaigning in the region was marred by violence, including attacks on the Congress candidate allegedly by Naga extremists, despite the Kuki-Zo organisations boycotting the polls to protest the government’s handling of ethnic conflicts.