Dimapur, Sept. 23: In a significant development, NSCN-IM general secretary and Ato Kilonser Thuingaleng Muivah is set to visit his native village of Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur for the first time in over 50 years. The Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) has cleared the long-anticipated visit.
Given that Muivah enjoys Z-category security cover, the approval of the Government of India was also necessary before finalising his travel plans. The visit is being closely watched due to its political and emotional significance, particularly in the backdrop of past controversies when his entry into Manipur was blocked by the then state government in 2010 under former Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh. That standoff had triggered widespread unrest across the region.
According to the approved itinerary:
• Oct 22, 2025: Muivah will depart Dimapur Airport at 9:30 am and arrive in Ukhrul by 10:00 am, where he will attend a public meeting at Ukhrul HQ at 12:00 noon. Later that afternoon, at 3:30 pm, he will leave Ukhrul HQ and reach Somdal Village by 4:00 pm.
• Oct 29, 2025: He will depart Somdal Village at 9:30 am for Senapati, arriving by 10:00 am, and attend a public meeting at Senapati HQ at 11:30 am. By 1:30 pm, he will leave for Dimapur, reaching by 2:00 pm.
Ahead of the visit, the Council of Nagalim Churches has been requested by the organising committee to conduct a special prayer service on October 5, seeking blessings for the smooth and successful conduct of the tour. The request was conveyed in a letter signed by Francis Ningshen, Member Secretary of the organising committee.
The visit is expected to be both a homecoming and a politically symbolic event, with thousands likely to gather to witness Muivah’s return to Somdal. For many in Ukhrul and across Naga areas, it marks not only the return of a leader to his roots but also a moment of deep cultural and political resonance.
